Team Herald
MAPUSA: Leader of the Opposition Michael Lobo on Monday said that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s statement on religious conversions is nothing but an attempt to polarise Hindu voters in the State ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Speaking to reporters, Lobo challenged the Chief Minister to show the proof of conversions taking place and claimed that people of Goa will never get polarised as all the people in the State live in unity and harmony.
“The statement made by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is unnecessary and unwarranted and unfortunate as it was made when Holy Week was going on. May be CM is trying to polarise people of Goa but such statements will not polarise Goans, who are united and always lived in harmony,” said Lobo.
Lobo said that the BJP had already had 20 MLAs but going beyond that and trying to polarise people is wrong. “If I meet him (CM) during any function then I will tell him that being the chief minister of State, making such statement is not right and has sent out a wrong message not in the State but across the nation and World”, he said adding that it has also hurt the sentiments of Christian people as the statement was made on Maundy Thursday.
“I am ready to go with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and he should show me the church or place where conversions take place. CM has disturbed the people of Goa by making wrong statements. CM should stop divisive politics as it will not help in Goa,” Lobo said adding that the Chief Minister is trying to please his ‘bosses’.
The Opposition Leader said that even then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar had never made such statements nor tried to divide people in the name of religion.
