MARGAO: Condemning statement of re-building the temples destroyed by Portuguese, Goa Environment and Ecology Team (GEET) on Monday challenged Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to repair the social damage of caste discrimination in the temples and also to perform “Abhishek” rituals in the Mangueshi Temple.
Addressing the media persons, N Shivdas, who is also a TMC leader, along with other members of GEET Jack Mascarenhas, Sayed Iftiyaz, Mahesh Naik and others, also warned the Chief Minister not to divide the people of Goa for the sake of political gains.
Shivdas came down heavily on the Chief Minister over the recent statement of his on temples and said caste discrimination in the temples of Goa has done lots of social damaged and it is a need of the hour to repair it.
“Chief Minister should first take initiative so that temples are open to all the members of Hindu community without any discrimination. It will be shocking to know that even the Chief Minister will not be allowed to perform the ‘Abhishek’ in the temple where he has made the statement of rebuilding temples destroyed by Portuguese. It is my open challenge to the Chief Minister to do so,” he stated.
He further suggested the government and most especially the Chief Minister should keep open his eyes so that no destruction is done to the heritage structure in Goa.
Mascarenhas also condemned the Chief Minister’s statement of re-building temples destroyed by Portuguese and said this statement is only aimed at attracting the Hindu community towards the BJP, keeping in mind the next Assembly elections.
“The Chief Minister and BJP want to divide the Goans in the name of religion. The government needs to talk about the development and not of re-building religious structures. Why not the CM talking about the major issues related to destruction of the environment and heritage? This government failed to protect the environment for the next generation,” he stated.
While Mahesh Naik suggested the CM not to interfere in the matters of temples, as there are already “Devasthan Regulations” in place to deal with the issues of temples.
