Shivaji statue to be installed now at Nehru Park in Sanguem

A meeting convened by Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai was attended by Sanguem Parish Priest Sanguem Fr Romeo D’Silva, Committee members of Our Lady of Miracles Church Sanguem, Sanguem Municipal Council (SMC) Chairperson Archana Gaonkar, Vice-Chairperson Syed Iqbal, and other councillors.

During the meeting, it was agreed to install the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the Nehru Park, which is adjacent to the Children's Park. It was also resolved to have better coordination between the two communities if any events at the Church and at the Nehru Park are to be held simultaneously after the installation of the Shivaji Statue.

The members rallying behind the installation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Statue at Sanguem agreed not to conduct any programme or cause any obstruction during any programmes being conducted in the Church premises.

At its meeting earlier this month, the SMC had resolved to install the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Children’s Park in Sanguem, in front of the Sanguem Church.

This decision invited a lot of criticism from the local Catholic community as the proposed site was barely a few metres from the Sanguem Church and could pose problems after the installation of the statue.

Phal Dessai and Fr Romeo D’Silva were instrumental in getting the issue resolved and managed to get the issue resolved by ensuring that the statue would now be installed at the Nehru Park.

Later speaking to reporters, Phal Dessai said he had tried arrive at a peaceful resolution in the matter.

“All religions, Hindus, Christians and Muslims should live in peace and unity. There should be no discrimination in any way and so, we decided unanimously to install the statue at the Nehru Park and let this message go all over Goa,” said the minister.

Fr D'Silva thanked the minister and the SMC for their support and for agreeing to install the statue at Nehru Park in Sanguem.