The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Goa on Sunday demanded an investigation by the Election Commission into a sermon by a local Catholic priest on an unidentified church premises.
The complaint is based on a video that has been going viral since Saturday. In it, Father Conceicao D’Silva, a Catholic priest, is heard saying the late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s death due to pancreatic cancer was the wrath of God for encouraging pollution and trying to cancel government holidays linked to the Catholic faith. Goa Chief Electoral Officer Kunal told The Hindu he has forwarded the complaint to the South Goa Collector directing an inquiry into the matter.
In the video, the priest speaks about coal dust pollution in Vasco da Gama. “Coal dust is all over, in the food, water, houses. People protested, held morchas, meetings, but Parrikar did not pay heed. His pockets were filled. Therefore, God gave him cancer,” he claimed.He further says that those who cross the path of God are bound to be punished, irrespective of whether one is the “PM or the PM’s father”.
Religious matters
Fr. D’silva went on to allege that Parrikar meddled with Catholic religious events and scrapped school holidays on days of Catholic significance. He also alleged that the BJP harassed minorities, urging his parishioners not to vote for the party.
BJP Panaji Mandal’s general secretary Vishnu Naik in his complaint to the Goa Chief Electoral Officer accused the priest of “creating an atmosphere of hate and fear and destabilising Goa’s religious harmony”.
“The said video clip depicts a priest addressing people within the building of a religious institution and creating an atmosphere of hate and fear against a particular political party and a specific religion,” the complaint said. It demanded a thorough investigation and that the priest be booked.
Secretary to the Goa Archbishop, Fr. Loiola Pereira, said to presspersons, “I am aware of the video and the people at Bishop’s House have been informed about it. I can’t confirm what will be the action (against him) as I’ve been away from Goa.”
