Team Herald
MARGAO: Citizens facing FIRs for protesting against Subhash Velingkar’s derogatory comments over St Francis Xavier in Margao, have accused the Goa government and police of double standards and selective targeting after being charged for blocking traffic to demand the Velingkar’s arrest.
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They have also demanded immediate withdrawal of the FIRs registered against them for their role in the mega street protests held in Margao last month.
They also pointed out that while Velingkar faced only one charge for his derogatory remarks against St Francis Xavier, the selective lot of protestors are facing seven charges from the Fatorda Police.
They added that some of these protestors allegedly received a thrashing from the police too.
The protesters have argued the government is applying different standards, pointing out that no one was booked when the NH66 was blocked to demand the arrest of activist Shreya Dhargalkar. Activist Pratima Coutinho blamed the authorities for forcing the spontaneous protest by the locals because the police had not promptly registered an FIR against Velingkar.
The protesters claim the Fatorda police are selectively targeting them, even though BJP leaders like Manohar Ajgaonkar and BJP-backed Margao Municipal Councillors also joined the demonstrations.
They wonder why the police are targeting the protesters when it was Velingkar who instigated the unrest with his comments against St Xavier.
Protesters contend the FIR is not just against them, but targets the followers and devotees of St Francis Xavier. They accuse the police of brutally assaulting a senior citizen during the lathi charge and detaining those who questioned them. They recall that a journalist was assaulted by the police too. The activists questioned why the authorities had delayed Velingkar’s arrest and are now harassing the protesters instead.
Overall, the protesters have cried foul over the government’s and police’s apparent double standards, claiming they are being selectively targeted to suit the authorities’ vested interests.
