A few days after objections were raised by a right wing group warning of law and order issues if the annual Eid Milad pro cession goes ahead on Sep tember 5, civil society rep resentatives submitted a memorandum to the South Goa Collector on Monday, urging the district admin istration to ensure that the religious event is held peacefully.
Addressing the media after submitting the mem orandum, Adv Pratima Coutinho criticised the statements made against the procession, describing them as an attack on Goa’s culture of unity. “Goans have always lived in peace, celebrating each other’s festivals. Attempts to divide people on religious grounds go against the very spirit of our State,” she said, add ing that the government should not succumb to any pressure aimed at curtail ing constitutional free doms.
Adv Mathew Almei da, who accompanied the group, echoed these views and emphasised that the people of Goa would not tolerate moves to disturb communal harmony. The memorandum, signed by a number of concerned citizens, drew the Collector’s attention to what it described as an alarming rise in hate speech, threats to law and order, and attempts to po larise society. “Goa is known for its cultural and spiritual rich ness, with communities living in harmony and the administration playing a role in promoting peaceful coexistence,” the note stat ed, while cautioning that repeated objections to mi nority events reveal a lack of seriousness in tackling divisive elements.
The signatories appealed to the administration to discharge its constitution al duty by safeguarding religious freedoms and preventing any disruption to the upcoming Eid Milad procession. They called on the authorities to act with firmness, warning that in action would embolden those who seek to create animosity. “This is not just about one community or one proces sion, but about protecting Goa’s identity as a place where people of all faiths live together with mutual respect,” the memorandum stated.
The citizens urged the Collector to intervene to pre vent any breach of peace, un derlining that timely action would reinforce public confi dence in the State’s ability to uphold justice. “We look for ward to your competent ap proach in dealing with such threats to Goan society,” the memorandum added