Team Herald
PANJIM: Former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Goa Prant Sanghachalak Prof Subhash Velingkar is a perpetrator of provocations and there is nothing progressive from him for the State, but only provocation. This is the view of many Goans whom have tracked his statements and controversies.
A prominent face of the Goa Bachao Abhiyan movement, Dr Oscar Rebello said Prof Velingkar was “notorious for making vitriolic statements and it is high time that he changes his language.”
Activist Rama Kankonkar alleged that Velingkar was acting at the behest of the government.
“Velingkar is doing government work. The government is using him to divert the attention of the people from the burning issues. Velingkar is known for making provocative statements. Early this year, Velingkar had threatened a State-wide agitation if the government and the Sancoale church authorities failed to return temple land to the Hindus to rebuild a temple,” Kankonkar charged.
Activist Xencor Polgi also endorsed that Prof Velingkar was making provocative statements and creating unrest.
“In the past too, Velingkar had uttered statements on St Francis Xavier. I want to appeal to him not to create communal tensions and to focus on the pressing issues,” Polgi urged.
Prof Velingkar stoked the first controversy in April 2022 when he said that St Francis Xavier cannot be called “Goencho Saib” and that Lord Parshuram was “Goencho Saib”.
Velingkar had then argued that terming St Francis Xavier as “Goencho Saib” was the creation of the colonial Portuguese.
On October 1, during a programme at Bicholim, Velingkar made a controversial statement demanding DNA test of the relics of St Francis Xavier so as to ensure that the relics belong to a European and not a native.
An electoral failure too
Velingkar has also been an electoral failure. He too contested the Panjim by-election in March 2019 and forfeited his security deposit by polling little over 500 votes.
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Court denies interim bail,
Velingkar ‘absconding’
Court says if arrested, SC guidelines on
two cases have to be met
Prof Subhash Velingkar on Saturday failed to get relief as the North Goa District and Sessions Court postponed the hearing on his anticipatory bail application on Monday, October 7.
After the Bicholim Police issued him a notice, asking him to remain present at the police station before investigation officer before 4 pm on Saturday, Prof Velingkar filed an anticipatory bail application.
The court refused to give interim relief “till service of notice to respondents” (State). It further stated if applicant (Velingkar) is to be arrested, they shall comply with directions of the Hon SC in directions in Arnesh Kumar vs State of Bihar and Satrnder Kumar Antil vs CBI.
However, the court posted the matter for further hearing on October 7.
A top police official said that Velingkar has been absconding. Multiple police teams have been formed and are on the lookout for him.