Police shut the entrance gate to the South Goa district police headquarters at Margao to keep the protestors at bay.
PANAJI
Goa witnessed widespread outrage on Monday after alleged derogatory remarks by right-wing activist Gautam Khattar targeting the Goa’s patron saint, St Francis Xavier, sparked protests and a flurry of police complaints across the State.
Anger spilled onto the streets as demonstrators gathered at multiple police stations, demanding Khattar’s immediate arrest and swift action from authorities.
The Congress intensified the political storm by demanding the sacking of Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, accusing him of “backing” Khattar during the controversial speech delivered on Saturday. The party also called for an FIR to be registered against the minister.
The flashpoint came after a video of Khattar -- founder of the Sanatan Mahasangh -- addressing a public event went viral. The gathering was attended by Swami Brahmeshanand, Godinho, and BJP MLAs Sankalp Amonkar and Krishna Salkar, further fuelling the political and public backlash.
In a significant development, senior BJP leaders, including minority MLAs Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo and Joshua D'Souza, along with Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Tanavade, strongly condemned the remarks, terming them deeply offensive and a threat to the State’s fragile communal balance.
MARGAO
Salcete witnessed widespread unrest on Monday as agitated residents from various parts of the taluka gathered in Margao to protest against derogatory remarks.
Hundreds of protestors assembled at the South Goa district police headquarters in the morning to lodge formal complaints and demand the immediate arrest of the accused.
The protestors, who were stopped at the entrance of the district police headquarters, demanded that Kattar be arrested within two days. They also called on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to dismiss Minister Mauvin Godinho from the Cabinet. They also urged Godinho, Amonkar, and Salkar to resign from the Goa Legislative Assembly, alleging failure to act against the accused during the programme.
COLVA
A large crowd inhabiting Salcete coastal belt descended at the Colva police station to demand the immediate arrest of Kattar.
Members of the local fishing communities and citizens in general, cutting across political and party lines, assembled at the police station to lodge their complaints against the accused.
Sarpanchas of the village Panchayats of Colva Tereza Fernandes, Xavier Pereira (Benaulim), Flavia Barretto (Varca), Sandra Fernandes (Carmona), Dixon Vaz (Cavelossim), Simao Pereira (Orlim) besides the Zilla panchayat members joined the spontaneous protests.
ANJUNA
A wave of anger and sharp criticism swept through Anjuna and surrounding areas over the incident.
Congress workers and local villagers lodged formal complaints at the Anjuna, Mapusa, Calangute and Saligao police stations, demanding his immediate arrest.
Tensions escalated in Anjuna, where villagers issued a stern ultimatum to the State government: arrest Khattar within 24 hours or face a mass agitation.
VASCO
Hundreds from the Christian community gathered in large numbers at Tilak Maidan, voicing strong outrage over the derogatory remarks.
The protest quickly gathered momentum, with people from different parts of Mormugao taluka assembling in a show of unity and anger.
Raising slogans and holding placards condemning the speaker, organisers and elected representatives present at the event, the crowd marched from Tilak Maidan towards the Vasco police station.
Complaint filed in Canacona
Canacona Congress Minority President Gaspar Joseph Coutinho lodged a complaint at the Canacona police station, demanding action against Gautan Khattar for his objectionable and provocative remarks against St Francis Xavier, which had hurt the religious sentiments of the Christian community.
