MARGAO: Goa, led by Margao exploded with protest on Saturday as irate protestors gathered on the roads at Colva Circle, outside Deputy Collector’s office and Ravindra Bhavan Margao. The protests continued through the day. They are demanding the arrest of former RSS Chief Subhash Velingkar over his remarks made against St Francis Xavier, which have hurt their religious sentiments. Earlier people gathered outside the Margao and Fatorda Police stations demanding Velingkar’s arrest. Protestors complained that five sections were cited by them, but on Section 299 of BNS has been applied to him, by the police. SP South Sunita Sawant assured people that Velingkar would be arrested. Police source disclosed that Velingkar was absconding for the past two days.
Continuing from their protest on Friday evening, protestors blocked roads in various parts of Margao. Earlier they gathered at Margao and Fatorda Police Stations on Saturday morning demanding the arrest of former RSS Subhash Velingkar over his remarks against St Francis Xavier. They have demanded that the Police add sections 302, 298, 197 and 196 of the BNS for spreading religious hatred, insult and disrespect and deliberate acting of wounding religious sentiments, which deserve imprisonment.
“ We had cited five sections of the BNS to the police. It is not that they don’t know which are the sections applicable. But inspite of that they have only applied Section 299 of BNS.”Savio Coutinho told media,
Kennedy Afonso recalled, “Without Bolmax saying anything offensive, Fr Bolmax was arrested, where is the CM. Despite the people’s protests why is Velingkar not arrested? This shows the BJP government is doing continued injustice to the minority community and making them suffer.” Dixon Vaz said, “The situation is going out of hand. At least the court should take congniznance of this. This person is a habitual offender. No action has been taken. It is sending a wrong signal. We respect all religions and if people have to come out on the streets, something is wrong with the administration.”
Early morning on Saturday, hundreds of people gathered outside the Margao and Fatorda Police stations. They were not happy that only section 299 of BNS had been applied to Velingkar. They demanded that 4 more sections stated intheir memorandum be added against him and demanded his immediate arrest. The protests continued through the day in Margao as there was utmost rage due to the unwarranted remarks of Subhash Velinkar.
“He will be arrested. Our police teams have gone. Let us not trouble the people. I’m appealing to all the people to move to the side of the road,”South Goa SP Sunita Sawant told the crowd
People burnt posters of ministers and shouted slogans. South Goa SP Sunita Sawant assured the crowd that Velingkar would be arrested, and that police teams were sent. “He will be arrested. Our police teams have gone. Let us not trouble the people. I’m appealing to all the people to move to the side of the road,” South Goa SP Sunita Sawant told the crowd. She also appealed to people to maintain law and order and clear the roads.