Community unites against hate speech, thousands rally in Ponda against Velingkar
Team Herald
PONDA: People from all walks of life echoed the sentiment that Goencho Saib Saint Francis Xavier, will always remain in their hearts and no one else can take his place. This was expressed in response to Subash Velingkar’s appeal to worship other heroes.
A large number of parishioners attended a public meeting held at the Mount Carmel Chapel premises to condemn Velingkar’s remarks.
Political leaders from various parties, including MGP’s Dr Ketan Bhatikar and Rajesh Verenkar, as well as social workers Viraj Sapre, former councillor Irvin Soares, Custodio Dias, Krishna Naik, John Fernandes (former Sarpanch of Curti) and Rockson Fernandes, condemned Velingkar for his efforts to disrupt communal harmony. They joined the protest, asserting that they would never tolerate attempts to destroy the unity of Goans by the communal forces.
Speakers from all communities shared their experiences of attending the Old Goa feast and worshipping Goencho Saib as a divine figure since childhood. They expressed that Velingkar’s speech was an attempt to create religious division and divert attention from pressing issues in Goa, such as illegal hill cutting, corruption, and land conversion.
Advocate Suela Vaz remarked that Velingkar has not only hurt religious sentiments, as recorded by the Bicholim Police but has also offended the feelings of every citizen through his hate speech. “We are all victims of his speech,” she stated.
A memorandum, signed by two thousand individuals, was presented to the Ponda Police, seeking the inclusion of four additional sections beyond those already filed at the Bicholim Police Station, in order to strengthen the case against Velingkar. Ponda Police Inspector Vijaynath Kavalekar accepted the memorandum from the delegation led by Adv Vaz and assured them that he would discuss the matter with his superiors and take appropriate action soon.