Strong protests erupted across the State on Monday after alleged objectionable remarks were made against St Francis Xavier, with polit ical leaders, social activists and citizens demanding the immediate arrest of Gautam Khattar, founder of Sanatan Mahasangh. Leaders and members of major political parties in cluding the Congress Par ty, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Goa Forward Party (GFP), and the Christian community gathered in large numbers at various police stations and filed complaints against Khattar demanding his immediate arrest. A massive protest was held at Tilak Maidan, Vasco where Khattar had attend ed the Parshuram Jayanti celebrations organised by the Sanatan Dharma Raksha Samiti and made a derogato ry statement against St Fran cis Xavier on Saturday. The crowd holding plac ards and shouting slogans marched from Tilak Maidan to the Vasco Police Station. A heavy police force deployed outside the police station stopped the protesters out side the main gate, prevent ing them from entering. Echoing these sentiments, social activists and commu nity leaders criticised the remarks, stressing that Goa’s identity is rooted in unity and respect for all religions.
They called for firm action to send a clear message that attempts to incite division or insult revered figures like St Francis Xavier will not be tolerated. Aldona Congress MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira said, “The attack on St Francis Xavier is an attack on every true Goan. Given that top functionaries were present on stage and possibly in the audience, police officials must also have been present. The Vasco Police should take suo motu cognisance, regis ter an offence for promoting communal disharmony, and act against the individual for insulting a religion and hurting religious sentiments. This appears to be a deliber ate attempt to create a com munal divide in Goa.” He further added, “St Francis Xavier is revered not only by Goans but by people across India and the world— by Catholics and non-Catho lics alike. This reflects Goa’s long tradition of respecting all religions, faiths, and be liefs. Such insults cannot be tolerated.” Congress leader Adv Amit Palekar pointed out a pro cedural lapse, stating that the Goa Police did not issue a notice under Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhi ta (BNS), which he claimed could be used as grounds for anticipatory bail.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo also condemned the re marks, stating that he would have intervened on the spot and asked the speaker to leave, as it was not an ap propriate platform for such statements. “We represent the people of Goa. We strongly con demn the irresponsible and offensive statement made against Goencho Saib, our beloved patron saint. Such remarks are deeply hurtful and a clear attempt to cre ate division and communal disharmony in our peaceful state,” he said.
Quepem MLA AltoneD’Costa said allowing Khattar into Goa was a mistake, noting that the State is known for its communal harmony. He also criticised the or ganisers for inviting someone with a history of making controversial remarks against saints. Goa Pradesh Congress Com mittee (GPCC) Vice President Sunil Kawthankar demanded that Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho be removed from the cabinet, arguing that a fair inves tigation would otherwise not be possible. Social activist Tanoj Adwalpalkar said Catholic MLAs should resign from the Pramod Sawant-led cab inet if they genuinely care about “Goencho Saib,” accusing them of political inconsistency. Another activist, Mariano Ferrao, remarked that Goa has long been a place of peaceful coexistence among religions, but individuals like Khattar disrupt this harmony with divisive statements.
Asif Hussain, State President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Goa, said that while freedom of expression is a fundamental right under the Constitution, it is not absolute. “It cannot be used as a licence to insult or demean religious figures or be liefs held sacred by any community. Such misuse reflects a disregard for the values of mutual respect and coexistence that define our plural istic society,” he said. Goa Pradesh Mahila Congress president Pratiksha Khalap said, “I strongly condemn the derogatory remarks made against St Francis Xavier at a recent function in Vasco. Such insensitive statements hurt public sentiments and threaten the communal harmony that Goa proudly stands for. We demand im mediate and strict action against those responsible, including Gau tam Khattar and all involved.” Former Goa Pradesh Mahila Con gress president Beena Naik said, “CM Pramod Sawant should see to it that those trying to disturb the peace of the State are banned from en tering Goa, as they had banned Dr Pramod Muthalik some years back. FIR should be filed against Gautam Khattar immedi ately & he should be banned from entering Goa.”
