Political leaders who attended event face calls to resign
Police deployed in strength around the Margao headquarters on Monday.
MARGAO
Salcete witnessed widespread unrest on Monday as agitated residents from various parts of the taluka gathered in Margao to protest against derogatory remarks made about St Francis Xavier by Gautam Khattar during a religious programme in Vasco.
Hundreds of protesters assembled at the South Goa district police headquarters in the morning to lodge formal complaints and demand the immediate arrest of the accused. Later in the evening, residents from the Salcete coastal belt converged at the Colva police station to continue their protest.
The protesters, who were stopped at the entrance of the district police headquarters, demanded that Gautam Khattar be arrested within two days. They also called on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to dismiss Minister Mauvin Godinho from the Cabinet. They also urged MLAs Mauvin Godinho, Sankalp Amonkar, and Krishna Daji Salkar to resign from the Goa Legislative Assembly, alleging failure to act against the accused during the programme.
Anticipating tensions, Margao police shut the entrance to the district police headquarters to maintain law and order. Reinforcements were deployed from nearby police stations, including Colva and Maina-Curtorim, as a precautionary measure. Traffic outside the headquarters was regulated with barricades as protesters marched toward the premises demanding swift action, including Khattar’s arrest.
Delegations of citizens, including representatives from the Congress led by Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa and members of the Aam Aadmi Party led by party chief Valmiki Naik and Velim MLA Cruz Silva, met Superintendent of Police (South) Santosh Desai and submitted written complaints.
A separate delegation of social activists, including Pramita Coutinho, Anthony D’Silva, Sabita Mascarenhas, Andrew Sequeira, and former Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva, also met the SP to press for action. Pratima Coutinho demanded action against both Gautam Khattar for making derogatory statements about St Francis Xavier.
A delegation comprising of social activist from the coastal belt Warren Alemao, Pio Furtado and Kennedy Afonso also separately called on the district police chief with their complaint.
Another delegation comprising of Adv Seoula Vas, Crydon Madeira and Milagres Fernandes also called on the SP Santosh Desai in the evening and handed over a complaint demanding Khattar’s arrest.
While police prevented the crowd from entering the building, SP Santosh Desai invited delegations to meet him individually and accept their complaints. He informed them that Vasco police had already registered an FIR against Khattar.
However, protesters insisted on his immediate arrest. The Congress delegation led by Altone D’Costa and the AAP delegation led by Valmiki Naik gave police a 48-hour deadline to act, warning of intensified agitation if the accused is not arrested within that time frame.
