Parishioners of Mandur parishioners submitting their complaint against Subhash Velingkar to Agassaim PSI Swapnil Naik demanding stern action for hurting religious sentiments of Goans.
Photo Credits: Manuel Vaz
OLD GOA
Parishioners of Mandur filed a complaint at the Agassaim police station on Thursday against Subhash Velingkar for his alleged derogatory statements against St Francis Xavier and hurting the sentiments of the Goans and the Christian community at large.
The complaint was signed by over 100 parishioners who demanded that stern action be taken against Velingkar so that he never ever utters anything against Goencho Saib.
Several parishioners from Mandur were present to file the complaint at the Agassaim police station and it was handed over to PSI Swapnil Naik.
Later speaking to reporters, Francis Fernandes stated that Velingkar is a habitual offender who has been speaking against St Francis Xavier.
"During the past such instances we kept quiet but now we are not going to tolerate any such misdemeanour by Velingkar, who is deliberately trying to incite communal hatred in a peaceful state like Goa," Fernandes added.
Another parishioner Viola Silveira said that Goencho Saib is revered not only by Christians but people from different faiths.
"And to utter derogatory statements against St Francis Xavier and that too when the Exposition is round the corner points to a larger conspiracy," Silveira informed.
"There are issues like large-scale land conversions, cutting of forests, degrading law and order, etc which are plaguing the State and this incident is only an attempt to divert attention from such issues," Silveira said.
Silveira demanded that Velingkar should either issue public apology or the government should initiate action to extern him from North Goa till the Exposition is over.
Terence Picardo too supported the demand as he said that it has hurt the Christian community deeply.
"If the government does not act against Velingkar then others will also start speaking against our religion and our saints which should not be allowed to happen," Picardo stated.
Adv Coutinho files plaint at Panaji PS, seeks Velingkar's arrest
Adv Pratima Coutinho filed complaint at the Panaji police station demanding action against Subhash Velingkar for his derogatory statements against St Francis Xavier.
The complaint was submitted to DySP Sudesh Naik, on Monday in which Adv Coutinho demanded that Velingkar should be arrested for hurting the religious sentiments of Goans.
"We, Goans, live in harmony and peace and such statements are likely to cause communal disturbances in the State," Coutinho informed reporters and slammed the government for its silence in the matter.
"In the past, there were instances in which the government initiated swift action. Then why is the same government silent now?" Adv Coutinho posed.
