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Margao (Goa) – While there is an environment of excitement across the country on the occasion of Shiv Jayanti, which is celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar on 19th February, this festival was marred in Goa. Religious fanatic Christians attacked Minister of Social Welfare Subhash Phal Desai while he was leaving after unveiling the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at a private property in Sao Jose de Areal. Minister Phal Desai has sustained minor injuries. At that time the Police used mild lathicharge.
Christians object to erecting a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj !
Minister Subhash Phal Desai came to unveil a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj installed by a Muslim man at Sao Jose de Areal in the latter’s private premises. Local Christians had objected to installing a statue of Shivaji Maharaj there. (What is the reason for Christians to object to installing a statue on private property ? – Editor) Christians have also accused that ‘this statue has been erected illegally’. A large Police force was deployed there on 18th February to keep the situation under control.
Acting on this allegation of the Christians, the Panchayat has issued a notice to stop further work related to the statue and has also asked to appear before it with the necessary documents.
The attempt made to chase away the Minister from the scene
After unveiling the statue, clay balls were thrown at Minister Phal Desai. The Police then used mild lathi-charge on the mob. While the Police were escorting the Minister safely away from the spot, the Christians were clapping and chanting ‘whoosh whoosh’ (go away). ‘I will not file a complaint in this case so as not to create religious discord in the State’, said Minister Phal Desai.
Premeditated attack by Christians
According to a video broadcast by a news channel, many Christians were present at the scene. Many Christians present there were seen wearing scarves, jackets, hats, and helmets. Therefore, the doubt is being raised that ‘Christians were present with preparedness for stone pelting’.
Minister Phal Desai visited the village on 18th February and informed the local Christians that the statue was erected on private property and that permission had been obtained from the Gram Panchayat. (Yet the Christians objected to it, this shows the hatred of the Christians towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ! – Editor) Phal Desai said, ‘I also spoke to the villagers there, but no decision has been taken’.
This was pre-planned: Minister Subhash Phal Desai
I think this attack was premeditated because I went 300 meters inside from the road to unveil the statue. While returning, women and some men with scarves tied around their mouths threw clay balls at me. Some of them were rolling on the ground in front of me, trying to pretend that someone had beaten them. At the same time, around 4-5 people were filming the incident on mobile phones. They were trying to show that either me or the Police are beating them up. They were acting as if someone had trained them and later wanted to benefit from it. We were 4-5 people, and they were 200 to 300 people. How could we beat them up ? I request everyone to keep calm.
The Government should take strict action against the attackers: Prof. Subhash Velingkar
‘I strongly condemn the attack by anti-Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj miscreants against Archives and Archaeology Minister Subhash Phal Desai who went to unveil the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Sao Jose de Areal ! The Government should take strict action against the attackers’.
Editorial Perspectives
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