The State has been embroiled in a wave of communal tension in recent times. Barely had the friction between sections of the Muslim and Hindu communities over Julus died down, a controversial statement by former Goa chief of RSS, Subhash Velingkar that a DNA test needs to be done on the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier to establish his sainthood has triggered angry reactions from vast sections of people across communities. Velingkar, a vocal advocate of Hindutva, has been repeatedly commenting on the saint hurting the religious sentiments of not only Catholics but a large section of people from other faiths and communities who are rooted in faith and revere him as Goencho Saib.
The comment, although not the first on the saint, comes at a time when the State is gearing up for the Exposition. It comes against the backdrop of the state government promising all possible infrastructural and logistical support for the celebration and engaging itself with a committee appointed for the event. The utterances come at a time when communities across religions are joining hands to make this Exposition memorable.
The feast of St Francis Xavier, through the years, has been one of the cornerstones on which the State has erected its communal harmony and it has brought together millions of people across religions and cultures. The devotion to the saint extends beyond religion, caste, creed, colour and region. Velingkar's repeated comment on the saint seeks to create a deep divide between communities and inject hatred into the rich tapestry of the State's harmony and peace. The angry reactions from sections of the Catholic community, with some lodging police complaints and others submitting memorandums, reflect a growing sense of disenchantment.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, while speaking on the sidelines of an event to mark Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, appealed to people not to take religion to police stations. His statement came against the backdrop of the escalating tension among groups over the Julus procession in Canacona that triggered unease across a few other areas. The question is, what choice do people have? What are the redressal options available to people whose religious sentiments are hurt? And what recourse should people take when the system acts partisan and engages in selective action?
Velingkar has a history of passing derogatory comments on the saint. In May 2022, he unveiled the 'Goa Files', linking atrocities committed by the Portuguese regime to St Francis Xavier and questioning his reference to "Goencho Saib" by Goans. Videos of this speech had gone viral then, creating an environment of turmoil. A series of complaints were lodged against the leader. This time around, tension is simmering again, and the silence at the top is deafening. There is utter silence from the government machinery on acting against a person who has brazenly chosen to provoke and disrespect religious sentiments.
The question is about the police allowing this situation to fester. It's about following different yardsticks based on alignments and political affiliations. If we recall, when a certain priest commented on Shivaji Maharaj last year, hell broke loose and the priest had to face the police and the law. The priest was literally coerced to apologise. In the current case, it appears there is a licence given to speak.
Allowing such loose talk on St Francis Xavier does not bode well for the communal harmony that Goa is known for. It goes against the spirit and ideals of the saint. Moreover, it raises suspicion against the political establishment. Deceitfulness and hypocrisy are showing. Random figures cannot be allowed to break Goa apart.
