TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: After initially admitting that there still exist apprehensions among the minorities over the acceptability of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza on Friday said that his statement was based on the apprehensions raised by the Church body-Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP).
“CSJP had raised the apprehensions about him (Modi) and my statement at that time was based on the same,” D’Souza, told media persons, once again openly blaming the Goa Church for triggering a secularism-versus-communalism debate.
D’Souza had on March 29 told a press conference that the apprehensions amongst minority over Modi still exist and will continue to exist. The statement was countered by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who claimed that there are no apprehensions.
“I believe in my Chief Minister. His made statement as he has gone extreme South (Goa) to understand the political wave…I have not gone…my statement was based on CSJP apprehension,” he tried to justify.
CSJP, through a press release last month had lashed out at Modi for promoting personality oriented politics appealing to people to vote for secularism. It had also lashed out at the Parrikar-led government for poor governance, saying it too, like previous governments, was not above board and pro-mining lobby.
