Condemning recent re marks made against St Francis Xa vier at a public function in Vasco as “malicious and hateful,” the Catholic Church in Goa has expressed deep “pain and anguish” over the inci dent. The Church called for “imme diate, strong, and exemplary action” against those responsible for the Vasco speech while simultaneously appealing for communal harmony. In an official statement, the Arch diocese of Goa and Daman stated: “We unequivocally reject and con demn these pernicious statements. Such divisive rhetoric, laced with falsehoods and venom, deeply hurts the sentiments of lakhs of Goans – irrespective of the religion they profess – who hold St Francis Xavier in the highest esteem. These state ments have caused serious hurt to the religious sentiments of Catholics and risk disturbing the communal harmony we have long cherished.” The statement further read: “We expect the concerned civil author ities to take immediate, strong and exemplary action against those re sponsible for this hate speech, in ac cordance with the laws of the land.
It further stated: “At the same time, we appeal to all to remain calm and exercise restraint. Let us uphold the peace and unity that have defined us for so long. In the spirit of Jesus Christ, we stand firm in truth and choose the path of peace. May St Francis Xavier intercede for us and bring healing to every troubled heart. May his spirit of love and frater nity continue to guide us all towards ever greater unity and peace in these troubled times.” CAG demands arrest of minister, MLAs over ‘complicity’ in Vasco hate speech The Catholic Associ ation of Goa (CAG) de manded the immediate arrest of Gautam Khattar, Panchayats Minister Mau vin Godinho, and MLAs Krishna ‘Daji’ Salkar and Sankalp Amonkar and called for a public boycott of them until they apolo gise at St Francis Xavier’s feet in Old Goa. On Monday, the CAG submitted a formal com plaint to the Sub-Divi sional Officer, Mormugao demanding FIRs under BNS Sections 196, 299, 303, and 353(2) against Khattar for calling St Fran cis Xavier a “terrorist,” claiming his “body rotted, eaten by maggots,” and de claring “no soul, no body survived” during an event organised by the Sanatan Dharma Raksha Samiti, Vasco at Tilak Maidan on Saturday evening. The Catholic body fur ther demanded that the names of Godinho, Salkar and Amonkar also be add ed to the FIR and that they too be arrested for com plicity and abetment of the crime. CAG president Cyril A Fernandes pointed out in the complaint to the SDPO that minister Godinho and the MLAs present on the dais witnessed this crime silently and without pro testing. By doing so, they lent State legitimacy to hate speech given by Khat tar, violated the constitu tional oath under Article 51A (e) to promote har mony, committed a breach of public duty as elected representatives and abet ted the crime committed by Khattar. Later, Fernandes called for a social boycott of all three people’s representa tives by all Goans till they offer a public apology at the feet of body of St. Fran cis Xavier at Old Goa for Khattar’s venomous utter ances and their complicity in organising/attending this hate event. Mormugao SDPO Guru das Kadam gave a patient hearing to the CAG delega tion and assured them of quick and stern action. The CAG members were accompanied by a large number of local Vasco res idents who have been dis turbed and hurt beyond consolation at the events of Saturday in Vasco. They extended their support to the call of boycott of the three elect ed representatives and vowed to teach each of them a lesson if they don’t offer public apology in Old Goa.
