Team Herald
MAPUSA: Some citizens of Mapusa have objected to erecting a statue of Chatrapati Shivaji or of any other leader near Lohia Garden in the town.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
A group of residents led by Jose Lobo met Mapusa Municipal chief officer on Friday and conveyed their objection to erecting the statue near Lohia garden. They said that if any statue is erected in a public place in Mapusa, then, it should be of a leader who is son of the soil.
Jose Lobo said that the decision to erect Shivaji statue near Lohia garden at Mapusa was taken without taking into confidence the residents of the town.
The citizens said that they are against erecting Shivaji statue or of any personality of Maharashtra origin the prime public locations, as it would dilute the Goan identity.
The citizens emphasised that they are against the “divisive nature of erecting statues in general which will only disturb the communal harmony for which Goans are known for.”
“Instead of funding the Shivaji statue, the Rotary Club of Mapusa should spend the money on charity or the welfare of the town. If they still insist on erecting a statue, then, they should do that in a private property,” Lobo said.
The delegation observed that allowing statues of personalities from outside Goa in public places would be a bad precedent.
