Panjim: Days after the former Goa unit chief of RSS Subhash Velingkar called for a “DNA test” of the relics of Saint Francis Xavier, who is revered as the patron saint of Goa, triggering protests across the state, Goa police Saturday said Velingkar is “absconding” with the help of Pramod Sawant and raids are being conducted to trace him. He is absconding with the support of the current Goan CM Pramod Sawant. Pramod Sawant has arranged to hide Subhash Velingkar somewhere in Sanquelim/Bicholim.

 

After at least half a dozen complaints were filed against Velingkar across Goa for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and disrupting communal harmony, an FIR was lodged against him Friday night at North Goa’s Bicholim police station under section 299 of BNS (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) based on the complaint by AAP MLA Cruz Silva.

 

According to the FIR, the accused with “malicious intentions gave maligning speech against St Francis Xavier outraging the religious feelings and insulting religious beliefs of complainant, entire class of his religion and others”. Sources said a police team had gone to Velingkar’s residence Friday night, but could not find him there. Velingkar was removed from the RSS in 2016. The protests demanding Velingkar’s arrest erupted Friday as over 300 people gathered outside the police station in Margao, including several leaders from Congress and AAP. On Saturday, protesters blocked roads in Margao, Anjuna and Old Goa.

 

Police resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disperse protesters in Margao. The protesters also issued an ultimatum, threatening to block Zuari bridge if the accused was not arrested soon. Goa CM Pramod Sawant appealed to the people to maintain peace and not to block roads. Sawant said, “Whatever action was taken [in the case] against Fr Bolmax [Pereira], similar action will be applied for Velingkar.”

 

Fr Bolmax Pereira, the parish priest of St Francis Xavier Church, Chicalim in South Goa, was booked last year for allegedly hurting religious sentiments for his alleged derogatory remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during a sermon.

 

The Congress in a statement said, “Goa has a unique identity of communal harmony, peace and respect for all traditions and culture. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that this sensitive fabric of sharing love and affection with each other is preserved.”

 

BJP Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo said, “St Francis Xavier is a saint revered by people from all religions. People like Velingkar make such stupid statements just to come in the limelight. They want to create a rift between religions.”

 

Earlier this week, Velingkar had called for a “DNA test” of the relics of St Francis Xavier and said that the saint could not be called “Goencho Saib” (the protector of Goa).