MARGAO
The protestors charged for staging protests against the derogatory remarks at St Francis Xavier in October 2024 on Friday demanded to know whether the BJP government employs different yardsticks for different people on the law and order front.
The Fatorda police had filed the charge sheet against Pratima Coutinho and 500 others for rioting and unlawful assembly after they hit the streets at Old Market to demand the arrest of former RSS Chief Subhash Velingkar for his derogatory remarks against St Francis Xavier.
Some of the accused were given copies of the charge sheets when they appeared before the court. The next date of hearing is scheduled on November 2.
Pratima later told the media that the followers of St Francis Xavier had been booked with a number of sections, while the government had let Velingkar scot-free without arresting him despite making the derogatory remarks.
She further demanded to know whether the government had registered any offence against Subhash Velingkar and others for blocking the Old Mandovi Bridge in support of their demand for recognition for Marathi.
Social activist Fidol Pereira said the people booked by the Fatorda police would come out clean, saying they have faith in the judiciary. “The police have registered false cases against the people for coming out to protest against the derogatory remarks against St Francis Xavier,” she said.
Former MMC Chairperson Savio Coutinho charged the government with selectively targeting protestors.
Social activist Meshoo D’costa expressed surprise that while the police had booked the common man for staging the protests, the MLAs had been spared by the government.
