VASCO
As many as 31 Hindu groups and people from different parts of the State have been visiting Sancoale in the last two days to have a look at the idol of Vijaya Durga Goddess which was found in the Zuari river, amid growing demands to build a Vijaya Durga temple in Sancoale.
Goa Suraksha Manch chief Shubash Velingkar who visited Sancoale on Thursday evening has even warned the government not to play with the sentiments of the Hindu community in Goa.
"The Goddess has appeared in the form of an idol at this location making the sentiments and devotion of the residents even stronger and taking us back in history which states this village as Shank Vhaal, a pilgrimage site which had a Vijaya Durga temple. The residents feel that there must be a temple here and everyone has a right to worship their religion and no one must suppress this devotion," said Velingkar.
He said officials of the Archaeological department had said they can carry out their tests at this location.
“But residents will not allow the department to take the idol in their custody and the Government must not exert unnecessary pressure on any department. All Hindu groups are united with the people of Sancoale and the order issued by the Dy Collector to give the idol in the custody of the Government must be withdrawn," said Velingkar.
"Every person has the right to worship the idol of their God and the government must not intervene politically in this issue because we don't want to have any kind of a rift or any communal tensions between people of different religions.”
“We don't want to have a tense situation because people are visiting here in large numbers. Let devotees decide on what they want to do with the idol and the Government must instruct the departments not to interfere with the religious sentiments of the people who are peacefully worshipping the idol and plan to build a temple in the village. The Government must stop sending officers of various departments to the Sancoale in the night asking for the custody of the idol," said Velingkar.
Goa Suraksha Manch chief Shubash Velingkar who visited Sancoale on Thursday evening has even warned the government not to play with the sentiments of the Hindu community in Goa.
"The Goddess has appeared in the form of an idol at this location making the sentiments and devotion of the residents even stronger and taking us back in history which states this village as Shank Vhaal, a pilgrimage site which had a Vijaya Durga temple. The residents feel that there must be a temple here and everyone has a right to worship their religion and no one must suppress this devotion," said Velingkar.
He said officials of the Archaeological department had said they can carry out their tests at this location.
“But residents will not allow the department to take the idol in their custody and the Government must not exert unnecessary pressure on any department. All Hindu groups are united with the people of Sancoale and the order issued by the Dy Collector to give the idol in the custody of the Government must be withdrawn," said Velingkar.
"Every person has the right to worship the idol of their God and the government must not intervene politically in this issue because we don't want to have any kind of a rift or any communal tensions between people of different religions.”
“We don't want to have a tense situation because people are visiting here in large numbers. Let devotees decide on what they want to do with the idol and the Government must instruct the departments not to interfere with the religious sentiments of the people who are peacefully worshipping the idol and plan to build a temple in the village. The Government must stop sending officers of various departments to the Sancoale in the night asking for the custody of the idol," said Velingkar.
