MELVYN MISQUITA
It is not often that the Church in Goa pays rich tributes to the leader of a party not renowned for its secular credentials. But departed CM Manohar Parrikar was no ordinary leader and when Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrao expressed his profound grief over the death of Parrikar on Sunday evening, he was, in a sense, also mourning the loss of a special relationship between two institutions, Parrikar as CM and the Church in Goa. Parrikar’s respect and support to the Church had not only won him praise from church leaders and the catholic community, it had also earned him flak from many within the BJP and RSS, but that did not deter Parrikar from pursuing this relationship with the Church.
Relationship
Parrikar shared very cordial relations with Archbishop Ferrao, amd many believed the two were “very close”. Archbishop Ferrao admitted that Parrikar had “respect and consideration” for church authorities in Goa and “would sometimes seek their opinion before coming out with far-reaching decisions for the benefit of the State.”
Parrikar was a frequent visitor to the Archbishop’s House. Archbishop Ferrao was also comfortable interacting with Parrikar on widespread issues and, if needed, even questioned some of his policies. Such was the rapport between the two leaders that when Parrikar was elevated as defence minister, he met Archbishop Ferrao before submitting his resignation to Governor Mridula Sinha.
Even when Parrikar had been diagnosed with cancer, Archbishop Ferrao was concerned about Parrikar’s declining health and had urged all Catholics to pray for his recovery.
Infrastructure
Parrikar never hesitated to respond to the Church’s request for new or improved infrastructure and even expedited projects for the Church.
Archbishop Ferrao was particularly grateful to Parrikar “for going out of his way to help organize the last two Expositions of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier in Old Goa and for creating a lasting infrastructure.”
Parrikar had made a special bypass to the highway within a record 65 days to ensure smooth traffic movement during the 2004 Exposition. Such was his concern that after a major fire in the Bom Jesus Basilica in October 2004, barely a month before the 16th Exposition, Parrikar assured to sanction financial assistance to repair the damaged portion.
When the archdiocese decided to shift the Novena and Feast of St Joseph Vaz near the old church site at Sancoale in 2018, Parrikar was quick to complete the required infrastructure for the event.
Parrikar had also taken interest in ensuring the speedy completion of the St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Centre at Old Goa and other Catholic projects across Goa.
Secularism
As CM of a state with a sizeable Catholic population, Parrikar was mindful to the minority community’s apprehensions over radical groups, as well as their freedom to profess their cultural beliefs.
When Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik wanted to set up a branch of his right-wing outfit in the State, Parrikar took decisive action and banned his entry into Goa in 2014, ignoring strong protests from pro-Hindu groups, a ban that has remained in force till date.
Given his respect for the Catholic community, Parrikar went against the trend of other states banning beef and threatened to punish those obstructing the legal import of beef, inviting the wrath of pro-Hindu & cow welfare groups.
Policy
Archbishop Ferrao recalled Parrikar’s appreciation for the contribution of Catholic educational institutions in Goa. One of Parrikar’s biggest decisions, safeguarding government grants to existing Catholic schools already imparting primary education in English in 2012, had led to a major fallout with his long-time confidante and BBSM convenor Subhash Velingkar.
While church authorities insisted that these Catholic primary schools were well within their right to get these grants, Parrikar had to face intense criticism from BBSM when he ensured that grants were not denied to Catholic primary schools.
The BBSM had even alleged a conspiracy between Parrikar, BJP and Archbishop Ferrao, claiming that Goa BJP conducted its politics on the advise of the Goa Archbishop. Church authorities have consistently denied the allegations as baseless and unfounded.
Despite Parrikar’s respect for Catholics in Goa, he will be remembered for at least 2 major lapses and controversial decisions: trying to cancel Good Friday from the list of state holidays and bringing out a CD on Goa’s freedom struggle, projecting Catholics in poor light. Criticism from the Catholic community quickly prompted him to withdraw his decisions.
Recalling the incident, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India Secretary General and Goan Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas said Parrikar “was honest to admit that the decision to cancel the Good Friday holiday in Goa was an error, respected sentiments of the Christian Community, restored the holiday and never looked back.”
Summing up, Bishop Mascarenhas had this to say: “The Church in India will remain ever grateful to him for his kindness towards the Christian community. We can truly say that Goa and India have lost a great leader and the Christian community has lost a sincere and honest friend.”
