MARGAO: Demonstrating sheer dedication to protect Goa’s harmony and peace, members of the civil society on Tuesday assembled at the Lohia Maidan, Margao and vowed to crush religious intolerance and warned those trying to create disturbance in the society.
Addressing the programme, organised under the banner of ‘Goenkar-Ek Pavl Ekcharachem’, Adv Uday Bhembre called upon the Goans to remain united to protect Goa’s identity.
He said, “There are several wings working to make ‘Bharat’ a Hindu nation and the BJP, the RSS and Vishwa Hindu Parishad too are working in that direction. Ours is a secular nation.”
Stressing the need to protect secularism in the country, Bhembre said, “The RSS and its wings are working to destroy our rights including the rights to choose and reject the religion.”
He said, “There will be no development if there is no unity and peace, but those forces working to disturb peace and harmony should be called anti-nationals.”
He alleged that the BJP and RSS are trying to create a Hindu nation by resorting to violence, as they want people other than Hindus to leave the nation.
Stating that Goans means unity, Dr Jorson Fernandes said, “We had to struggle if we did not remain united. There are few forces working towards dividing Goans and these are not true Goans.”
Several other civil society leaders including Prashant Naik, Rama Kankonkar, Parvati Nagvekar, James Fernandes, Vikas Bhagat, Xencor Polgi and others appealed to the people to remain united.
Rajan Ghate warned that Goans will not allow anyone to destroy Goa’s harmony and targeted the BJP government on Mhadei, Western Ghats and other issues.
Xencor Polgi stated that Goans need to come on the streets to fight the coal pollution issue.
Several political leaders including Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, MLAs Vijai Sardesai, Cruz Silva, Venzy Viegas and Altone D’Costa and other politicians extended their support to the movement and called for unity in Goa.