OLD GOA
Several hundreds of people from across the State attended a protest meeting at Azad Maidan on Saturday evening to condemn the arrest of two nuns in Chhattisgarh.
Speakers from various faiths lambasted the BJP government in Chhattisgarh for targeting minorities, with some suggesting that the same scenario is emerging in Goa, especially after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had hinted on the need to have an anti-conversion law in Goa.
The meeting was organised by Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) in association with Goa needs Minority Commission, Citizens Initiative for Communal Harmony, the Catholic Association of Goa and other associations.
Among those present at the meeting included Archbishop of Goa Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, Auxiliary Bishop of Goa and Daman Simião Fernandes, Velim MLA Cruz Silva, Caritas Goa Director Fr Maverick Fernandes, citizens of various faiths, activists, religious and community leaders, who united in a call for the protection of minority rights and the promotion of communal harmony.
THREE RESOLUTIONS
Three resolutions were adopted during the meeting.
The first demand was to establish a transparently selected and accountable State Minority Commission with the backing of a state law.
The second demand voiced opposition to an anti-conversion law which has the potential to be used against the minorities and to deny people of services rendered by persons of minority faiths.
The third demand was for restoration of law and order by protecting religious freedom and minority rights.
A signature campaign was also undertaken and a petition with the three demands will be submitted to the government for implementation of the same. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to justice, peace, and safeguarding democratic values.
THE PETITION
In his welcome address, Fr Savio Fernandes emphasised the importance of peaceful action in defending the dignity and safety of all communities, stating, “it is our constitutional right to live and proclaim our faith.”
While reading out the petition, CSJP Executive Secretary Fr Savio Fernandes highlighted that minorities in Goa have “faced riots, hate speech, incitement, and provocative statements,” false FIRs later quashed by courts, and denial of permissions for meetings, rallies, or protests, with “anti-terror laws and oppressive anti-conversion laws dangled over them.”
Minority institutions, including educational and social welfare organisations, were said to be “facing increasing challenges.”
He referred to the arrest of two Keralite nuns and a tribal man at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh as “one of the latest in a spate of persecutions of minorities in India.”
The petition criticised the move to amend the Chhattisgarh law, stating it was being made “harsher” to “create a hype around conversions and justify the enactment of the amendments.”
It noted the legislation was modelled on the Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion law, which contains “harsh provisions” such as shifting the burden of proof to the accused and defining “conversion” so broadly that “any person from a minority community can simply be targeted.”
Participants warned such provisions could severely impact the ability of Christian missionaries and members of other minority faiths to conduct charity work, fearing accusations of conversion.
They stated that “some of the newer anti-conversion laws stand in complete violation of the right to freedom of religion, as well as other fundamental rights,” and called for protection under Articles 14, 19, 21, 25, and 26 of the Constitution of India.
MULTI-FAITH SPEAKERS
Pastor David of the Methodist Church sought to know why authorities were afraid of two nuns who were doing service to humanity.
"The nuns did not carry weapons but still they were targeted on flimsy grounds of conversion and human trafficking," opined Pastor David, and urged those targeting the good work of the nuns to do such good work themselves.
Condemning the incident of arrest of the nuns, activist Ramesh Gawas said the time has come to fight for another freedom struggle in India where people of different religions coexist peacefully.
Abdul Wahab of the Association for the Protection of Civil Rights said that since 2014, incidents against minorities are increasing all over the country, be it Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs or Jains.
“Masjid, Churches, religious institutions are targeted in the name of conversion,” said Wahab informed.
“In Goa also, minorities are being targeted by certain individuals and Goans should stand united against such forces which are dividing people in the name of religion not only in the state but the country.”
Activist Sayed Iftiyaz urged the gathering to stand against such acts like the arrest of the nuns and show the fascist forces their place.
Advocate Albertina Almeida said that the happening in Chhattisgarh is only a trailer to bring in anti-conversion law in that State.
"The government there wants to show that the number of cases of conversion are rising and for that there is a need to bring in anti-conversion law," Almeida informed.
She stated that the Chhattisgarh government is fully backing the right wing organisations to target minorities.
"In Goa too, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant spoke on the need to have anti-conversion law and already, there are attempts to file cases of forced conversions so that it would make their job easier for bringing an anti-conversion law. Therefore, we have to be aware of the bigger designs of the BJP governments in Chhattisgarh as well as in Goa," she warned.
Advocate Caroline Colaco said that under Article 25 of the Constitution everyone has a right to profess, propagate, and practice one's religion.
"Also, under articles 29 and 30, minorities in India have rights to run educational and other institutions. But only in recent years, the culture of hatred and fear is getting propagated," she stated but said that the divisive forces behind the hate culture can be fought through a united front.
"If we remain united we can defeat the forces behind the hate culture as everybody has a right, under the Constitution, to live in a culture without fear," Adv Colaco stated.
Mathew Almeida anchored the proceedings, while Adv John Samuel delivered the vote of thanks.
