OLD GOA
A group of about 20 people led by noted Konkani writer Michael Gracias on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the Old Goa police accusing Subhash Velingkar of making derogatory statements made against St Francis Xavier.
Gracias was accompanied by like-minded individuals including former minister Alina Saldanha.
In their complaint, they accused Velingkar of “constantly posting derogatory posts against St Francis Xavier and the Christian Church aimed to create communal tensions and bloodshed in the name of religion.”
Further, the complaint pointed to the statement purportedly made by Velingkar that a DNA test be conducted of St Francis Xavier.
“He has been constantly posting hate posts against St Francis Xavier and the Christian community in Goa without any basis,” stated Gracias and others.
“Such comments and posts spread hatred against the Christian community and hurt the religious sentiments of not only Christians but all the devotees of St Francis Xavier spread over the world crossing all religious, gender and caste barriers.”
“It is our observation that Velingkar is creating a communal flare up in view of the upcoming solemn Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier,” the complaint further stated.
The complainant has further demanded that Velingkar be immediately arrested on charges of hurting religious sentiments and inciting religious outrage, as well as promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.
The complainants have requested the Old Goa police inspector to take strict action against Velingkar and prevent a communal flare up in the State.
Govt ploy to create disharmony to divert from real issues: Cong
OLD GOA: Congress leaders have condemned the statements made against St Francis Xavier and said that it is a ploy by the government to create communal tension in the State to divert attention from the real issues.
Speaking to reporters in Old Goa on Wednesday, Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao said the BJP is using some persons to create communal disharmony.
“There are issues like unemployment, protests against land conversions, internal fighting within the BJP which all Goans are aware of. And to divert attention from these issues, the government is using some persons to create communal disharmony so that the attention is diverted,” Alemao said while appealing Goans not to fall prey to such tactics.
Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Ferreira said it is the BJP’s ploy to create communal disharmony in the State.
“The BJP is facing various issues, including infighting, and they are trying to rake up issues to incite communal disharmony,” Ferreira stated.
Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa condemned the statements made against St Francis Xavier and said that as a Christian he is hurt.
“The CM should take immediate action against the individual who has made the statements as nobody has right to speak on other religions,” D’Costa added.
“St Francis Xavier is known as Goencho Saib all over the world and we will not tolerate such insults on our saint,” he informed.
