the goan I network
PANAJI
Two days after the police filed an FIR against the Church body - Centre for Social Justice and Peace -- for allegedly exposing children to aggressive language and issues of political ideology at the Church -- backed anti-CAA rally held at Lohia Maidan, complainant Emidio Pinho claimed ignorance about Goa ever having witnessed a pro-CAA rally.
While Pinho, office bearer of the Catholic Association of Goa (CAG), who also runs the NGO Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN), had complained about children being exposed to psychological abuse at the anti-CAA rally, he told ‘The Goan’ on Saturday that he was not aware that any pro - CAA rally had been held in Goa, when he was questioned about what action he planned to take about children being present at the government - backed pro-CAA rally.
“I am not aware of any pro-CAA rally held,” Pinho told this daily a minimum of four times, when questioned. Even after it was pointed out to him that the government had claimed that 20,000 people had attended the pro-CAA rally around a month ago, Pinho feigned total ignorance.
An audibly nervous Pinho said, “Since the media has already come up with articles against (me), I do not want to give any comment.” When we specified that he would be quoted as saying he wasn’t aware of the pro-CAA rally, he responded with, “Whatever you want to quote, you can quote, but I am not going to give you a comment about anything.”
Meanwhile, Pinho’s behaviour has evoked sharp response from the vice-president of the CAG, Venzy Viegas, who resigned from his post in protest. Viegas said that Pinho’s behavior was absolutely disgusting, for having complained prima facie falsely about another church body, purportedly at the government’s bidding. Viegas pointed out that Pinho’s complaint was motivated as he had just finished a project with the government to develop an app for women and child safety.
Complaint to DGP
Meanwhile, the NSUI-student wing of the Congress has filed a complaint with the Director General of Police (DGP) that students of the Vidya Prabhodini School in Porvorim had been forced to participate in a pro-CAA rally.
“This is to bring to your notice that the school management of Vidya Prabhodini, Porvorim has been brainwashing the minds of very young students in the school and has reportedly asked their students to be part of a rally in support of CAA and NRC, thereby exposing the children to political ideology and aggressive language, and thereby also exposing them to psychological abuse and an unsafe environment,” stated Ahraz Mullah in his complaint to the DGP.
“It has also been complained that students from the institution are forced to be part of such rallies, failing which strict action is taken by the management against the students who oppose NRC and CAA. This is a clear indication of abuse of their rights,” Mullah added.
Mullah has also attached proof of children being present at the rally in the form of a video.
