I-T search on parish priest triggers protests in Velim Parishioners demand written apology with 48 hrs

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

MARGAO: An inquiry and search conducted by the Income Tax officials and the election flying squad on the Parish Priest of St Francis Xavier Church, Velim Fr Romano Gonsalves on Monday evening has triggered protests and resentment amongst the parishioners.

At a meeting held on Tuesday evening, the parishioners have set a 48-hour deadline on the authorities to explain to their host of queries and tender a written apology for the incident. They have resolved to hand over a memorandum to the District Collector, South on Wednesday and chalk out the future course of action if the authorities fail to respond to their demand within 48 hours.

Fr Gonsalves told newsmen that the IT officials came to the Church premises at around 5.15 pm on Monday and left the Church premises only at around 7.15 pm. “They first opened my cupboard and on only finding a chocolate box, they opened all my suitcases in my room”, Fr Gonsalves recalled. He said that he was subjected to two hours of interrogation by the officials on questions not only relating to his personal account, but the income of the Church. “I was asked to disclose the money I have with me; the amount of money in the Church; how the money is being utilized by the Church; whether the Church has the PAN number; how the school teachers are paid etc. They also asked me whether I had gone to the USA and who had paid for the ticket”, he said.

Saying that he was deeply hurt by the way the search was conducted by the officials, Fr Gonsalves said “They addressed me as Mr Romano Gonsalves and not as a priest. They literally treated me as if I was a thief”.

Replying to a question, Fr Gonsalves suspected political motive behind the incident since he was spreading the message of the Archbishop that people should not vote for money, but vote according to their conscience.

Addressing the meeting, Church Attorney Adrian Mascarenhas termed the incident as an attempt to suppress the voice of the Parish Priest from educating the Parishioners on the Archbishop message how to cast their vote in the elections. 

“The issue is indeed a serious one. This has thrown up the question whether they will raid all the religious institutions. This is a history that the flying squad came in the Church”, he said, adding that they are in the process of contacting nearby parishes on the issue and form a bigger platform.

“We need an answer from the officials within 48 hours whether the flying squad was acting at the behest of the IT officials or vice versa, the nature of the complaint; the name of the complainant; whether they were aware that they were raiding a religious institution”, Mascarenhas said, while demanding an unconditional apology from the officials.