PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today assured the House that minorities in Goa are safe and will continue to be protected under the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), dismissing attempts to link incidents from other states to the situation in Goa.
“We follow a Uniform Civil Code in Goa. There is no injustice done to minorities here, and it will never happen,” Sawant said. “Do not try to create fear and panic in the minds of people by citing some incident in Chhattisgarh.”
The CM was responding to concerns raised by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, who demanded an assurance that Goa will not follow the pattern of right-wing appeasement and minority harassment seen in some BJP-ruled states.
Alemao raised the issue of the recent arrest of two Kerala-based Catholic nuns, Sr Preethi Mary and Sr Vandana Francis, by the Chhattisgarh police in an alleged case of human trafficking and forced religious conversions. The complaint, he alleged, was reportedly filed by a local right-wing activist.
Alemao questioned the rise in such incidents in BJP-ruled states and expressed concern that similar targeting could take place in Goa. “Private policing is on the rise in BJP-ruled states. The minorities are vulnerable to harassment by right-wing workers and police, on fake and frivolous complaints,” he said.
Outside the Assembly earlier today, Alemao had strongly condemned the arrest of the two nuns, calling the charges baseless and politically motivated. “I condemn the move by the Chhattisgarh government of arresting two innocent nuns, Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preethi Mary,” he said. “They were arrested on grounds of human trafficking and forced conversion. The BJP government in Chhattisgarh was even forced to delete their own Twitter posts.”
Alemao noted that the court had granted bail and observed that the arrest was based on mere suspicion. “This was done by a right-wing outfit of the ruling party. Today, there is fear and anxiety in the minds of the people of Goa that certain non-state actors are trying to destroy the peace between Hindus, Christians and Muslims,” he warned.
Citing a statement by Kerala BJP Chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who called the incident a misunderstanding, Alemao said the Goa Chief Minister also needed to clarify the state’s stand. “Why do people have to go to court for basic protection? The court seems to be the only relief. Then why do we have a government? Why do we have to live in fear?” he asked.
In response, CM Sawant said he stands by the state’s track record of communal harmony and legal equality. He reiterated that Goa would not allow any form of injustice towards any community.
