Team Herald
PANJIM/CALANGUTE: Deeply distressed with the happenings in Goa, given their deep devotion to St Francis Xavier, agitated Goans in Paris condemned the atrocious statement of Subhash Velingkar against Goencho Saib. The protest was held outside St Francis Xavier Church, in Paris opposite the St Francis Xavier Metro Railway station.
After singing the popular hymn, San Francis Xaviera outside the St Francis Xavier Church in Paris, one gentleman said, “ We are glad to inform you that a nail of St Francis Xavier is kept here as a relic and it is displayed for veneration only on December 3, every year. All these Goans in Paris gathered here with just one message and we thank all the activists in Goa for awakening the government, but the government has not listened since though the FIR has been filed, Velingkar has not been arrested. We are looking forward to his arrest.”
The Priest of the Church, who is also a Goan, said, “We are in Paris to look after our families in Goa. We have grown up in Goa.”
He said, "St Francis Xavier is our Saib. We pray to God through the intercession of St Francis Xavier. This is the foundation of our faith.”
A senior citizen said, “I bow my head and salute all Goans who protested when they were hurt due to the remarks made on St Francis Xavier, especially that the body of the saint be taken away from Goa. He has protected Goa and may he always protect Goa.”
In Guirdolim, parishioners had a candlelit procession and recited the Holy Rosary in the St Francis Xavier Chapel compound. They prayed for forgiveness for Subhash Velingkar despite the hurtful remarks made by him against St Francis Xavier.
A parishioner said, “I have the mike in my hand for the first time to talk since it is really hurting to hear this. He (Velingkar) said many things but the most hurtful of all the remarks was that he said take this dead body away from here. I think if this was said to anyone’s parents, would you have kept quiet. I am deeply saddened. We decided to come forward from Chandor and Guirdolim, to show that we will stand up for our faith.”
A lady parishioner, who was part of the peaceful protest, said, “We have been taught by tolerance, peaceful co-existence and brotherly love by our priests. I feel ashamed to take his name. His insult has hurt all Goans. If he was a Niz Goenkar he would not have uttered this insult. Although our religion teaches us forgiveness, I pray that the law takes its course and the government arrests him.”
A candle march was also organised in Guirdolim, Salcete. Demonstrators in both locations demanded Velingkar’s immediate arrest and justice.
Meanwhile, around 2,000 residents of Calangute constituency joined a silent candlelight protest march at Calangute against Subhash Velingkar’s comments about St Francis Xavier. A memorandum demanding action against Velingkar for hurting the religious sentiments of Goan Catholics was handed over by residents to the Calangute Police.
“Velingkar has done this to seek publicity as otherwise he is completely ignored. He only wants to divide people on religious lines,” Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said, adding that they also want to convey to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant that they were hurt over the lathi-charge on people who were holding a peaceful protest over Velingkar's comments against St Francis Xavier at Margao on Saturday.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, said, “Saint Francis Xavier is an integral part of Goa’s history and culture. I urge the authorities to take strict action against those who try to disrupt our social harmony.”
Activists who were part of the march claimed the controversy has been created deliberately to divert the people’s attention from the various scams of the BJP government. “It is clear that this is to divert the people’s attention from this government’s agenda to sell Goa to non-Goans by large-scale illegal conversion of land. Just because of the comments, the stature of Goencho Saib will not be diminished. We want to highlight the government’s inaction in arresting the accused for so many days,” activists said.