TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: The removal of a cross at a road junction in Nagoa-Arpora has sparked yet another spat between Calangute MLA Michael Lobo and Calangute Panch Joseph Sequeira.
While Sequeira has accused Lobo of double standards in the removal of religious structures, Lobo has hit back by justifying that everyone, including the owner of the cross, had agreed to the removal of the structure.
“The MLA removed the religious structure which was coming in the way of his development at Nagoa-Arpora. But when Calangute Panchayat wanted to shift a cross which was blocking developmental works at Umtta Vaddo, the same MLA forced the government officials and Calangute Police to refrain from shifting the religious structure,” stated Sequeira.
When contacted, Lobo said the Cross had been removed after taking the people, the owner of the religious structure and local Church authorities into confidence.
“Not a single person objected to the removal of the cross and it will be restored some 5 metres away from the road. I take full responsibility for the removal and shifting of the cross as I too belong to the Catholic community,” assured Lobo.
“In Calangute, the locals had objected to the removal of the religious structure while the Chapel Committee members had also voiced their different opinions. The only option to resolve the issue was to obtain necessary permissions from the Church authority and from the government authorities. The religious structure can still be removed or shifted, provided that required permissions are obtained from Church authorities and the State government. I don’t want to play politics in the name of religion,” added Lobo.
When contacted, Arpora-Nagoa Panch Agostinho D’Souza said the local panchayat had taken the local Catholic community into confidence. “Besides, the owner agreed to shift the cross to another place. The owner had also taken the local Church body into confidence in the matter.”
