Tensions flared in parts of Goa on Sunday as members of the Christian community took to the streets, calling for the arrest of Subhash Velingkar, the former Goa unit chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), over his remarks regarding the Catholic missionary St Francis Xavier.
Locals and political leaders staged a protest in Old Goa seeking action against Velingkar. The protesters also called on like-minded individuals to gather in Margao city in South Goa for a demonstration. Late on Saturday, a group of protesters blocked a national highway in Margao and clashed with police. Five protesters were detained.
Commenting on the development, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on Sunday slammed the BJP for “deliberately stoking communal tensions,” adding that Goa’s harmony is “under attack” under BJP rule.
“The BJP is deliberately stoking communal tensions, with a former RSS leader provoking Christians and Sangh organisations calling for an economic boycott of Muslims. Across India, similar actions by the Sangh Parivar continue with impunity, backed by support from the highest levels,” the Congress leader tweeted.
He further asserted, “The people of Goa and the whole of India see through this divisive agenda and are standing united”.
The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), the social work wing of the Archdiocese of Goa, issued a statement saying that the Goan Catholic community condemns Velingkar’s “insulting and derogatory” remarks.
“Velingkar’s statements deeply hurt the religious sentiments not only of Catholics but also of so many people belonging to other faith communities who also revere the saint for having received numerous favours in their lives after praying to him,” the statement reads.
The committee urged the protesters to exercise restraint for the sake of peace and communal harmony. It also appealed to the authorities to take necessary strict action against Velingkar, as per the prevailing law, for “trying to disrupt communal harmony in Goa by deliberately and mischievously pitting one community against another”.
More than 12 cases have been filed against Velingkar for “hurting religious sentiments” due to his media statements criticising St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of the state, whose relics are housed at the Basilica of Bom Jesus Church in Old Goa.
So far, police have not arrested Velingkar. He filed anticipatory bail plea before a local court on Saturday, which refused to grant him interim relief from arrest and scheduled the matter for Monday.
