Vasco police registered an FIR under Sections 299 and 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity.
The incident occurred during the ‘Bhagwan Parshuram Janmotsav’ event held in Vasco on Saturday, where Khattar, founder of Sanatan Mahasangh, allegedly made objectionable comments, including referring to the saint as a “terrorist”.
The event was organised by Sanatan Dharm Raksha Samiti Mormugao and was attended by State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and BJP MLAs Sankalp Amonkar and Krishna Salkar.
According to the FIR, the complaint was lodged late Sunday night by Congress leader Peter D'Souza, who alleged that Khattar referred to the patron saint as a “terrorist” during the programme.
D’Souza demanded action against both the speaker and the organisers, stating that the remarks had hurt religious sentiments and disturbed communal harmony.
According to the police, the accused allegedly made “highly objectionable and insensitive remarks” against St Francis Xavier during a public function organised on the occasion of Bhagwan Parshuram Jayanti at Tilak Maidan.
The complaint states that the remarks were made with the intention of outraging the religious feelings of the Christian community in Goa, where St Francis Xavier”popularly known as Goencho Saib”is deeply revered. “The statements could promote hatred, enmity, and disharmony between communities on religious grounds,” FIR stated
Meanwhile, organisers of the Parshuram Jayanti celebration later addressed a press conference, calling the remarks unfortunate. They claimed the speaker was immediately stopped once the issue arose. The organisers also expressed regret over the incident and apologised to those who were deeply hurt by the remarks.
