PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday played up Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 10-day old visit to the Vatican in the Catholic-dominated constituency of St Andre, calling it an unprecedented moment in Indian history while slamming his political critics for trying to disrupt social amity in the coastal state.
"PM Modi, eight days ago, went to Vatican City and met world leader Pope. He is a priest and an apex leader of Christianity. Modi's meeting with the Pope by travelling all the way from India is worthy of congratulations. I congratulate Modi ji on your behalf," Sawant said at a government function in St Andre in the presence of local Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Francisco Silveira.
"There has never been such a moment in this history of India. Through this, Modi has shown that India is moving ahead on the basis of 'sabka saath, sabka vikaas, sabka vishwas and sabka prayas," Sawant said.
Modi had visited the Vatican and called on Pope Francis, where his hug with the pontiff went viral.
Sawant said that while Goans of all religions had lived in peace and harmony since the Liberation of the state, efforts were being made to create a rift in society.
"Goa is celebrating its 60th year of Liberation. After freedom from Portuguese rule, all of us Goans have been living together like brothers and sisters," Sawant said.
"Hindus, Muslims, Christians have never had any differences. But some people want to create differences. Some people want to engineer a separation. Their politics is about 'divide and rule' by saying you are Hindu, you are Muslim, you are Catholic. We do not want to do such politics," he added.
