Goans foiled attempts by BJP, RSS to create communal discord, claims Yuri

Team Herald

PANJIM: Launching a scathing attack on the BJP and RSS, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Monday claimed that Goans had unitedly foiled attempts made by the divisive forces to create communal discord in the State.

Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat in Porvorim, Alemao alleged that Velingkar had deliberately made the statement in view of the coming decennial Exposition of the Sacred Relics of the Saint which will be held between November 2024 and January 20-25.

Claiming that united Goans hade foiled the ‘blueprint’ of the RSS and BJP for creating communal tension, Yuri stated that Goans had maintained brotherhood and said he was thankful to all the Goemkars - be it Hindus, Muslims or Christians for handling the situation peacefully and showing unity against deliberate attempts to create divisions in society and appealed to the masses to stay united with love forever.

“By now, everyone has come to know that BJP was trying to divert the burning issues of massive corruption, land dealings, land conversion, Mhadei and selling our Goem by keeping people in dark,” thundered the Opposition leader

“BJP is aware that it has lost ground due to all these factors and hence resorting to intimidation tactics and communal incitement. It is using its crutches like RSS and other Right Wing outfits to divide people on the lines of religion. But they have failed and will fail in future too,” he said.

“Why I say BJP is heartless, is because it forced people to die in Manipur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to visit Manipur, but during the same period, he travelled to other countries,” he pointed out.

Alemao said, “The Manipur issue was very serious and I had warned this government that anti-minorities, communal groups will try to create a Manipur like situation in Goa. But despite that, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar didn’t allow the Opposition to speak on this issue. They knew that if discussed they would have got exposed.”

“Today, the attention of the world focussed on Goa, as remarks of Subhash Velingkar were painful and were deliberately made to spread communal discord,” he pointed out.

He said the police have to focus on the arrest of Subhash Velingkar because he made the statement purposely knowing very well that the exposition is just around the corner.

"The police should lead by example and arrest Velingkar," Alemao said also demanded that the cases booked against the protestors be withdrawn.

Locals and political leaders in Goa held protests in the last two days, demanding the arrest of former Goa RSS chief Subhash Velingkar for his defamatory statement about St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of the State.