PANJIM: Coming out in support of Pastor Domnic D’Souza, who was recently arrested on charges of alleged involvement in black magic and religious conversion activities, Goa Christian Federation held a protest at Azad Maidan, Panjim on Monday, terming the pastor’s arrest as a systematic step by step pre-planned targeting of Christian community in Goa as second class citizens and tagging them anti-nationals.
The pastor was arrested following a complaint by Vadivel B, a native of Tamil Nadu and presently living in Curti-Ponda.
The protesters wearing black ribbons held placards with slogans which read ‘stop murder of democracy’, ‘Brutal murder of democracy, Fight polarisation against the minority community, protect minorities in Goa, their holy places of worship, properties, people.’
Speaking at the protest meet, Zenobia Anil Kamat, a protestor said, “Two complaints were registered last year. This year’s complaint is the copy paste of the same.”
Pastor Dominic was picked up from his home at 2.30 am in the morning on the complaint filed by someone who is a Tamil and not from Goa. “However during the panchanama in the presence of the complainant, IO, PI and SDPO the video footage was shown where the complainant Bala Subramaniam could not anyway show the time and location where he had encountered Domnic and Joan. The footage and evidence alongwith audio conversation has been provided to Court and all departments,” added Kamat.
“It is a systematic step by step pre-planned targeting of Christian community in Goa, targeting them as second class citizens and terming them anti-nationals. Today, we, the sons and daughters of Goa are being exerted on a complaint lodged by a Tamil. This is not an attack on Pastor Domnic and his wife but a complete attack on the fundamental rights,” Kamat said.
Mathew Almeida, an activist, said, “Since 2014, persecution of Christian community in the country has increased. According to the reports of human rights organisations, Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. Recently, many Christians have migrated to other countries where they have liberty to fight for their rights. Very soon our Prime Minister will visit an Arabian country to inaugurate a temple. But don’t we have a right to practice our religion?. If conversion according to them is a crime then the first crime was committed by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, who made a provision in the Constitution and himself got converted.”
Adv John Samuel said, “It breaks our heart when we see the Constitution being attacked. It is the Constitution which gives us our right, unity in diversity. It does not matter which religion you may be from. We have not come here to support one religion, one group. But we are here to stand for the Constitution which is a document that gives each of us our rights.”
“Today if Section 144 of CrPC did not work then let’s try something else. Let us try to remove them from North Goa. You expect me to believe that somebody from another place will come, make a false complaint and a Goan will be removed from his own home,” Adv Samuel said.
Fr Caetano Fernandes, Parish Priest of Porvorim Church, read the memorandum which stated, “The fundamental rights of the minority community have been deprived and minority community is being victimised. …Recently it has been discovered that under the influence of the ruling government attempts of religious polarisation against Christians, Muslims and other minorities have been deprived of their privileges. Pastor Domnic D’Souza and his wife were illegally framed and were made victims.”
