The Mopa issue is once again on the boil. This time, however, it is less of anti-Mopa and more of ‘antipathy’ within the anti-Mopa cause. One side headed by a priest is against a leading politician championing the anti-Mopa cause. This is purely a political issue and should be left to politicians and activists. The Church should steer clear of the issue as this is emphatically not a Goan cause.
Politicians may debate the issue and take sides. Activists and citizen groups have every right to agitate for or against Mopa. But the church should not take sides on the issue. In the case of the Konkan Railway project the church burnt its fingers. But it can be forgiven because the church (erroneously) thought it was championing the cause of ‘all groans’.
In the case of Mopa the church must first establish that it is championing the cause of all Goan people. This implies people in all talukas of Goa – Catholics Hindus and Muslims. In the case of Catholics, the issue may be discussed in the 150-odd parish pastoral committee meetings. If a vote is taken in all PPCs the result will be divided. That itself should be sufficient reason for the church to back off. But the church cannot represent Catholics alone. Now if an opinion poll were conducted in Goa (not of Catholics only) the result would again be divided. So let politicians and activists decide. What would happen if some Catholic outfit in North Goa should start a movement in favour of Mopa?
Prof Robert Castellino, Calangute
