VASCO
Amid growing outrage over alleged derogatory remarks against St Francis Xavier at a recent function in Vasco, the Sanatan Dharma Raksha Samiti on Tuesday issued a clarification distancing itself from the statements. It said the speaker, Gautam Khattar, had no official backing from the State government.
In a press release, the organisers said Khattar was neither invited as a state guest nor given any government facilities.
His travel, accommodation and other arrangements were made privately, without any support from the authorities.
They said the remarks came as a shock and were not expected.
Immediate steps were taken to stop the speech, with Minister Mauvin Godinho and MLAs Sankalp Amonkar and Krishna Salkar intervening on stage and asking Khattar to stop. Though he paused briefly, he later continued speaking and questioned the attempts to silence him. Written notes were also passed to him during the event, urging him to stop.
The Samiti said Khattar’s views were personal and did not reflect the organisation. He had been invited to speak on Sanatan Dharma, not to make remarks against any religious figure.
The organisers reaffirmed their respect for St Francis Xavier.
Expressing regret, they apologised to those hurt by the incident and said they value harmony in the State. They also rejected claims made by Goa Forward Party president and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, reiterating that the event was private and had no link to the government.
