The simmering controversy over the raid by an Income Tax officer belonging to an election “flying squad” on a parish church at Velim in south Goa early this week following complaints of “cash” disbursal is refusing to die down.
Fr. Romano Gonsalves, the Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier Church, Velim and his followers in the village have expressed outrage and sought an unconditional apology from the authorities for the raid which failed to find any unaccounted monies, but only humiliated the priest. The ruling Congress has been quick to condemn the “irresponsible action.”
On Thursday, the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman deplored the unwarranted raid and expressed solidarity with the priest, saying that such an unjustified raid had caused profound humiliation, besides subjecting the parishioners to anguish, hurt and uncalled-for negative publicity.
The church has demanded a proper enquiry and remedial action so that such incidents are not repeated.
