Team herald
CALANGUTE: The panch of Arpora-Nagoa Panchayat Cleophas Fernandes allegedly stopped the retaining wall work, privately being carried out in the Xavier Retreat Centre at Baga, which belongs to the Jesuits of Goa, allegedly at the behest of a BJP minister. Fernandes allegedly threatened the 73-year-old Director of the Centre, Fr Ronnie D’Souza with dire consequences if the road access through the Church property is not given to him for his shack located behind the Retreat House.
The Anjuna Police have registered an FIR against Cleophas Fernandes alias Celfa for alleged trespass and threatening the priest and workers. The MLA of Calangute Michael Lobo has urged the concerned BJP minister not to get involved or play politics in the church property to save his close aide and has demanded the immediate arrest of Cleophas.
Speaking to media persons at the Centre inBaga, Lobo said, “The workers involved in the construction of the retaining wall to save the Centre were threatened by Cleophas and the work being done by villagers of Baga-Arpora-Calangute-Calangute-Parra was forcibly stopped in connivance with a coastal BJP Minister. It is a shame for me that a BJP Minister is trying to destroy the Church property at Baga. I will be calling on the chief minister and deputy chief minister to seek their intervention in completion of the retaining wall works.”
“I will also impress upon the chief minister for a thorough investigation into the entire episode of hill cutting and construction of six meter wide road allegedly at the behest of the minister. The government should not allow its ministers to play politics with religious institutions. The Anjuna Police are also being pressurized not to arrest the culprit Cleophas at the behest of the BJP minister,” Lobo alleged.
Fr Savio Barretto, Rector of Bom Jesus Basilica at Old Goa and in-charge of Jesuit properties in Goa said, “The incident of threatening of 73-year-old priest and director of the Centre is shocking and I urged the government to fulfill its assurance. The permission was granted for strengthening of the existing retaining wall which had weakened and not for a six meter access through church property.”
The Calangute ZP Member Shawn Martins, sarpanchas of Arpora-Nagoa, Parra, Candolim besides locals were also present at the Xavier Retreat Centre, Baga.
