He said that this could be done by allowing the celebration of feasts and treating the historical shrines with utmost care and respect, besides maintaining them; seeking the immediate withdrawal of the order prohibiting visitors to the island; and restoring the old sea route via Galgibag in Canacona to the Anjediva Island.
“These would act as confidence building measures and would go a long way in bridging the growing animosity between the civilians and the Defence Ministry,” said Gonsalves.
He further said, “Parrikar’s reply to questions raised by Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik during Zero Hour on March 1 has not only come as a crude shock to Goans worldwide and in Uttar Kanara, but has hurt religious sentiments as well.”
He pointed out that Parrikar’s reply had always been the Defence Ministry’s ‘stated’ position that: a) in 1989, the Goa government transferred the island to the Defence Ministry for the project Sea Bird, with the condition that the Navy should allow devotees on the island to celebrate feasts, subject to security conditions; b) the Anjediva Island had been declared a “prohibited place” by the Goa Government on December 27, 1989, under the Official Secrets Act, 1923; c) After completing the North Break Water linking Binaga Point with Anjediva Island and setting up sensitive facilities in the vicinity, the permission to hold feasts was withdrawn due to security considerations; and d) in consultations with the District Administration, it was decided that the law and order situation did not permit any activity on the island.
“However, Parrikar, as then Chief Minister or opposition leader had never accepted this ‘stated’ position even though it was declared a ‘prohibited place’. It is also a military A1 classified zone, which is a highly sensitive area,” said Gonsalves.
To prove this point, he stated, “On April 15, 2002, Parrikar donated from the CM’s relief fund Rs 25,000 for the urgent repairs of the Church of Nossa Senhora de Brotas. On July 19, 2003, then Defence Minister George Fernandes, in a reply to a letter from Parrikar, stated that a dozen temples had to be shifted from the island to the mainland, and hence, they needed to follow a uniform policy towards the people of all religious faiths. This was a blatant lie as no temples existed on the island or were shifted to the mainland.”
He further said, “On October 20, 2004, when local fringe elements threatened ‘Shoba Yatra’ on the island, the Deputy Commissioner of Uttar Kanara, Karnataka, fearing a law and order situation, unequivocally issued an order prohibiting religious activities on the island. The order is ultra vires (the territorial jurisdiction) as the Anjediva Island is a revenue village of Canacona. The Karnataka Administration has no jurisdiction over the island.”
He continued, “In May 2010, when the MoD sought acquisition of St George Islands – Grande and Pequeno (Bat) Island and the stretch beyond the runway at Bimbvel Beach in Mormugao, the then MPs of Goa objected strongly to the acquisition and cited the misdemeanours of the MoD (Navy) in acquiring land under the guise of security. Parrikar had also reiterated how the Navy had denied celebrations of the feasts at Anjediva and advised them to shift base to Karwar.”
“While not a single installation is on the island; the 1.5 km causeway is the only link between Anjediva Island and the Sea Bird project. Yet, on Navy Day, the Navy allows the public into the Arga base and the defence vessels with due security conditions, but the same is denied to those celebrating the feasts on the Island. In the neighbouring island of Devgad, the customary feast is being permitted without security considerations,” said Gonsalves.
He added, “In hindsight, Parrikar may have come under severe compulsions to adhere to the stated situation; thereby, after nearly 15 months in office, succumbing to the adage ‘if you can’t beat them (defence authorities) join them.”
