12 Jun 2022  |   07:29am IST

BJP calls founder of RSS prant in Goa “currently irrelevant”; distances from his utterances on Goencho Saib etc

Party didn’t feel like “increasing his status" and hence didn’t react to him; Reacting would have our “fear” in the debate, says BJP spokesperson

Team Herald

PANJIM: The national BJP was quick to distance itself from its Spokesperson Nupur Sharma calling her a “fringe element” after her remarks on the Prophet have stirred up international controversy. In Goa an unconnected but narrative, felt to be divisive by large sections of Goans, pushed by one of the founders of the RSS prant in Goa and the Goa Suraksha Manch leader was not addressed by the BJP.

The GSM leader remarked that instead of Saint Francis Xavier, being known as Goencho Saib, the Hindu God Parushuram should be known as Goencho Saib. 

The BJP government in Goa nor the Chief Minister has made a single response to this, even as his comments drew flak and condemnation from across Goan society and across all faiths which reveres St Francis Xavier.

Meanwhile, on Saturday during the course of Herald TV’s weekly debate on “Should Goa focus on building temples, statues, and forts of focus on human development” the BJP spokesperson and Head of its Social Media Cell Rupesh Kamat, responded to a pointed question on why the government and the party has remained absolutely silent when the controversy was raging.

He said, “BJP did not react because we did not want to give any importance to the persons who are currently irrelevant. 

Neither he belongs to RSS does not do he belong to BJP”.

Interestingly the former RSS leader at one point of time was seen as the principal consultant advisor and guru of the BJP leadership in Goa.

Kamat added, “By reacting we are increasing his status and putting fear into the debate that’s why the party decided to keep quiet on that".

Herald TV repeated the question and asked again “You feel he is irrelevant?”

Kamat responded “Absolutely”.

However, the man the BJP considered “irrelevant” has not stopped and is continuing to stroke controversy claiming that in Sancoale and in Ponda where established religious structures of other faults stand in good stead for years,  there are temples.

(The full debate is on Herald TV on our Youtube channel and throughout Goa on cable TV. )