Former Goa CM Churchill Alemao files police complaint demanding Velingkar’s arrest, Oppn condemns remark
Former Goa unit RSS chief Subhash Velingkar’s remarks against Saint Francis Xavier, who is revered as the patron saint of Goa, has caused uproar in the coastal state.
While former Goa chief minister Churchill Alemao has filed a police complaint demanding Velingkar’s arrest, the Opposition parties in the state have condemned his statements for allegedly attempting to disrupt communal harmony.
Earlier this week, Velingkar had called for a “DNA test” of the relics of St Francis Xavier. He said the saint could not be called “Goencho Saib” [Protector of Goa].
Velingkar was removed from the Sangh in 2016 after he rebelled and had disagreements with the BJP government’s medium of instruction policy in elementary education. In 2022, Velingkar had said that St Francis Xavier cannot be called “Goencho Saib” and a campaign titled ‘The Goa Files’ would be launched to create awareness that Lord Parshuram is the “Goencho Saib”.
In his police complaint filed on Wednesday, Alemao accused the former RSS leader of hurting religious sentiments and attempting to disrupt communal amity.
St Francis Xavier, a Spanish Jesuit missionary, arrived in Goa, then a Portuguese colony, in 1542. He died in 1552 on Sancian Island, off the coast of Guangdong province in China. His relics are enshrined in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa.
The decennial exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier is scheduled to be held in Goa from November 21, 2024 to January 5, 2025.
“The time has come to do a DNA test on Velingkar. People of all faiths – Hindus, Muslims and Christians – have been living peacefully in Goa, but people like him are out to destroy the age-old communal harmony. The sentiments of all the people who venerate St Francis Xavier are hurt when such remarks are made. I have filed a complaint at Colva police station,” Alemao said.
The police said no FIR has been registered so far.
Vijai Sardesai, president of Goa Forward Party, said, “The sentiments of Goemkars from all faiths are hurt after unfortunate comments. Have the government’s sentiments not been hurt? And what will it do to not vitiate the atmosphere with such insults against the Goencho Saib, whom the Prime Minister termed a ‘symbol of peace and cohesiveness’ in February?”
Aam Aadmi Party MLA Venzy Viegas said, “People like him [Velingkar] need to be rehabilitated outside the state. We strongly condemn such statements. This is being done just to divert attention from the main issue of land conversion plaguing the state.”
Velingkar on Thursday also filed a police complaint at Old Goa police station against “certain activist groups” for spreading “false narratives and attempting to disrupt communal harmony”.
In the police complaint, Velingkar said, “I have recently made a statement regarding the Goa Inquisition, an unfortunate chapter in the history of Goa, which took place during the period of Portuguese rule. While history speaks of Saint Francis Xavier’s contributions to the spread of Christianity, it is important to understand that the Goa Inquisition created a reign of terror for many non-Christians.”
“The comparison I draw is between the actions of the Inquisition, which instilled hatred and terror, and the true spirit of sainthood. I believe it is time to revisit history, examine the actions of the past and reflect on the true meaning of sainthood. Acts that incite hatred or oppression, whether during the Inquisition or in any other historical period, cannot be considered holy. This statement is not made to defame any religion but to highlight the historical events that shaped the experiences of countless Goans. My statements speak of the written history and not my personal views,” he said.
“The push for a DNA test to verify the identity of the remains believed to be those of St Francis Xavier has gained momentum among the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and globally,” he added in the complaint.
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