On May 6 this year we will be celebrating 420 years when St Francis Xavier set foot on the Goan soil. He was destined to spread the word of God did not convert anyone but people’s faith in him may have done otherwise.
When he set foot in Goa there were no motorable roads but still he would travel walking in every village spreading the word of God and performing miracles and healing the sick of all faith.
The recent controversy over comments on Goencho Saib by Subash Velingkar has stirred a hornet’s nest in the State.
Velingkar’s stand on Goencho Saib is absolutely wrong and only exposes his communal mind set.
Velingkar should understand that everyone is free to choose his or her religion and this is aptly enshrined in our Constitution.
If Velingkar wants to create awareness on Baghwan Parshuram he has every right to do so and nobody can stop him. He can conduct as many awareness campaigns as he likes, he can also christen Bhagwan Parshuram as Goencho Saib and no one will have any objections.
But Venlingkar has no right take away the title of Goencho Saib from St Francis Xavier.
By raising such unwanted controversies Velingkar appears to be spreading communal hatred in Goa. Goans, especially the majority community, are not fools to fall prey to such communal statements.
