AERIAL VIEW
Goa is one of the few states which does not stress on religions. We all lived together. Hindus celebrated Christmas and Eid with Catholics and Muslim friends, while the Christians and Muslims reciprocated during Ganesh Chaturthi. I always remember how my neighboring aunt waited for Diwali
Sweets of nevryo’s and fove, and we waited for Dodol and bebinca during Christmas. We also enjoyed the Biryani and sheer-khurma during Eid.
So what has changed now? Why do we see our friends as Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and so k on n? Goa was never like this? Who is doing this?
Actually, we cannot blame the fundamentalists. Their job is to create confusion amongst people, polarise them, and create a rift so that they enjoy the power.
Editor, Goemkarponn
A few days ago, the Goa Governor P.S Sreedharan Pillai said that we could not live in the past. Whatever happened in the past, good or bad, cannot be undone now, so why take up the same issues again and disturb the social fabric now?
Goa is celebrating 60 years of liberation, and we have left whatever, good, evil, or any injustice behind us. Goa has been progressing for the past 60 years and has seen a lot of development. We are one of the best states in terms of infrastructure and per capita income, and that has been possible because we gave importance to human development more than religion.
Goa is one of the few states which does not stress on religions. We all lived together. Hindus celebrated Christmas and Eid with Catholics and Muslim friends, while the Christians and Muslims reciprocated during Ganesh Chaturthi. I always remember how my neighboring aunt waited for Diwali
Sweets of nevryo’s and fove, and we waited for Dodol and bebinca during Christmas. We also enjoyed the Biryani and sheer-khurma during Eid.
So what has changed now? Why do we see our friends as Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and so k on n? Goa was never like this? Who is doing this?
Actually, we cannot blame the fundamentalists. Their job is to create confusion amongst people, polarise them, and create a rift so that they enjoy the power.
We, the people have to be blamed because we listen to such nonsense and start believing in them. If we, the people, just ignore these statements and start living as we did in the past, these people will themselves stop making such statements.
I am not blaming people of any particular community here; neither I blame Subhash Velingkar for his childish statement, as I don’t know what triggered that, nor do I blame the Navelim priest’s statement against BJP during the election or PFIs statements.
However, what is alarming is these reckless statements are being made only now. Has it got something to do with elections?
We have seen Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant’s statements on conversion and temple destruction by the Portuguese have given a shot in the arm to extremism in Goa. Needless to say but it won elections for him. After the Goa Assembly results, the focus is on parliamentary polls, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also fighting the anti-incumbency.
People like Subhash Velingkar are making statements like one now as there is no fear; if the chief minister makes such irresponsible statements, why not others.
While this may please a few Hindu hardliners, it has also encouraged forces like PFI in Goa, which was never heard of.
PFI has got a dubious reputation, and it did not find ground because Goa was a peaceful state, and they found no takers for their ideology, but CMs statement has given them the fodder to make a mark in Goa.
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