Team Herald
MARGAO: While reacting to Selective I-T notices to Goan church authorities, AICC Secretary Girish Chodankar has termed it as another unfortunate attempt by BJP to polarise Goa by harassing minorities just before elections.
He said, the way the Goan church authorities have maturedly handled such intimations in the past, this time also they are handling it systematically without falling in trap of BJP.
Chodankar said, it is unfortunate that I-T department is serving notices on November 21 while asking complicated information on same day. He said Goan church which has contributed immensely in the field of education and social sectors by creating infrastructures in backward areas which otherwise would have to be spent by the government has taken Goa to a new height that too by abiding law of the land.
He alleged that the I-T department under the pressure from dirty tricks department of BJP has issued such notices with communal intent, they should have first targeted those who have looted the government exchequer and banks of crores of rupees and have even left or fled the country.
The IT department should act in a responsible manner because the Churches of Goa are not going anywhere and have been honest in filing I-T returns dutifully. One must also understand that if the government creates a false atmosphere of distrust of the Church, this will discourage donations which in turn will have a setback on the charitable organisations, old age homes, orphan ages and health centres run by the Church, he added.
