RSS Leader's Remark On Christian Saint Flares Up Communal Tension In Goa, Rahul Gandhi Reacts

Tensions rose in parts of Goa on Sunday as members of the Christian community took to the streets, demanding the arrest of Subhash Velingkar, the former chief of the Goa unit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), over his comments about the Catholic missionary, St Francis Xavier.

Locals, along with political leaders, organised a protest in Old Goa, calling for action against Velingkar.

Photo Credit: PTI

The demonstrators also urged like-minded individuals to gather in Margao city, South Goa, for further protests.

On Saturday night, a group of protesters blocked a national highway in Margao, resulting in clashes with the police, and five individuals were detained.

Meanwhile, Church authorities in Goa have called for peace and restraint in light of the escalating protests.

Addressing the issue, Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticised the BJP on Sunday for "deliberately stoking communal tensions," claiming that Goa's harmony is "under attack" under BJP governance.

"The BJP is deliberately stoking communal tensions, with a former RSS leader provoking Christians and Sangh organisations calling for an economic boycott of Muslims. Across India, similar actions by the Sangh Parivar continue with impunity, backed by support from the highest levels," the Congress leader tweeted.

He added, "The people of Goa and the whole of India see through this divisive agenda and are standing united."

The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), the social wing of the Archdiocese of Goa, released a statement condemning Velingkar's "insulting and derogatory" remarks.

"Velingkar's statements deeply hurt the religious sentiments not only of Catholics but also of many individuals from other faiths who also revere the saint, having received numerous blessings after praying to him," the statement read.

The committee urged protesters to maintain restraint in the interest of peace and communal harmony. They also appealed to authorities to take strict legal action against Velingkar for "deliberately attempting to disrupt communal harmony in Goa by pitting one community against another."

Over 12 cases have been filed against Velingkar for "hurting religious sentiments" following his media statements criticising St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa, whose relics are enshrined at the Basilica of Bom Jesus Church in Old Goa.

As of now, Velingkar has not been arrested. He submitted an anticipatory bail plea to a local court on Saturday, which denied him interim relief from arrest and scheduled the hearing for Monday.