Political leaders across party lines in Goa have strongly condemned the alleged derogatory remarks made by right-wing speaker Gautam Khattar (the recorded video of which has gone viral on social media) against St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa during a function in Vasco in the presence of State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, BJP MLAs Krishna (Daji) Salkar and Sankalp Amonkar. A FIR has now already been filed against the said Gautam Khattar at the Vasco police station on Sunday and a so-called 'probe' is currently underway but is this enough? Because we all know what happened in Subhash Velingkar's case. I think that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who claims to respect the religious sentiments of all communities in the state must take personal interest in the above matter and get Khattar arrested at the very earliest. The State cannot remain silent when the sentiments of an entire people are attacked. Goa will not tolerate its icons being maligned for cheap controversy. Goencho Saib belongs to every Goan, and Goans will defend that legacy with dignity and unity.
