Team Herald
PANJIM: Protests broke out in various parts of North Goa district over former RSS chief Subhash Velingkar’s remarks on St Francis Xavier.
A large crowd gathered at Anjuna Police Station and demanded the immediate arrest of Velingkar for making derogatory and malicious remarks against St Francis Xavier. They alleged that Velingkar was posting hate speeches against the Christian faith and thereby hurting the religious sentiments.
The protesters submitted a memorandum to Anjuna PI Suraj Gawas, who told them that a FIR had already been registered against Velingkar under Section 299 of BNS. But the protesters were in no mood to listen to the police and reiterated their demand that Velingkar be placed under arrest immediately.
Some of the protesters also attempted to block the streets and burnt the effigy of Velingkar outside the police station.
Meanwhile, the parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Valpoi, filed a police complaint against Velingkar for his derogatory statement against St Francis Xavier.
They demanded that Velingkar be arrested and be externed from Goa till the decennial Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier is over, as there was every possibility of him trying to create disturbance during the Exposition.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Mandrem and marched to the police station to file their complaint against Velingkar. They stated that they were deeply hurt by Velingkar’s remarks on St Francis Xavier and demanded his arrest.
In a show of solidarity, hundreds of residents from Canacona taluka gathered outside the police station and sang hymns in honour of St Francis Xavier and demanded that Velingkar be arrested immediately for creating communal discord.
The residents of Panjim and Taleigao also went to the police station and lodged a complaint against Velingkar stating that he had hurt the religious sentiments of the people by his remarks on St Francis Xavier.