the goan I network
PANAJI
Less than 48 hours after the Catholic Church urged the Centre through its head Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, that the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) be revoked, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Goa hit back with its State general secretary Narendra Sawaikar asking Ferrao to stop claiming benefits for its educational institutions under Article 30 of the Constitution. Taking to social media platform twitter, Sawaikar, a former South Goa MP and currently enjoying cabinet rank status as NRI Commissioner, said: “If #CAA is discriminatory for Goa #Archbishop, than Article 30 of Constitution of India is more discriminatory. Don’t claim benefits at taxpayers money by claiming minority status! #CAA @Pontifex.”
Article 30 of the Constitution insulates educational institutions run by minority communities in the country from discrimination by governments.
In an earlier tweet on Monday, Sawaikar had said that if #CAA is discriminatory then Article 30 of Constitution of India is more discriminatory.
“Don’t claim benefits at taxpayers money by claiming minority status! #CAA #Archbishop.”
Earlier on Sunday one of the several minority legislators, Panchayat and Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho of the ruling BJP had also made an oblique attack against the Church’s and Ferrao’s demand saying “it was wrong for religious bodies to make statements which can create a communal divide.”
The ruling BJP has a legislative strength of 27 and fifteen of these MLAs belong to the Catholic community. Ever since the Catholic Church officially took a pro-active position and joined the nationwide protests against the CAA, National Population Register and National Register of
Citizens by organizing a massive rally in Margao on January 24, the Catholic bloc of MLAs of the ruling party have gone restive and have raised alarm that it would adversely affect them politically.
The Diocesan Society of Education, a Church body, has been running some 150 schools and colleges across Goa which are beneficiaries of the State government’s grant-in-aid policy which provides financial assistance including salaries to teaching and non-teaching staff in schools and higher secondary schools.
Article 30 of the Constitution expressly protects these minority educational institutions from discrimination by the government in matters of granting aid.
The Congress meanwhile chided Sawaikar and called him “autocratic” for his curt language in condemning the Archbishop.
Congress spokesperson Trajano D’Mello said: “Narendra Sawaikar has exposed his autocratic DNA by condemning Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao for expressing his views and appealing that better sense prevail on CAA, NPR and NRC.
D’Mello added that Sawaikar should wear earplugs if he is not accustomed to hear sincere and sane appeals like the one made by the Archbishop on CAA, NPR and NRC.
