Search the Internet           Tips

Goa divided over VHP's national meet

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

With just a day left for the two-day national level meeting of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Goa, opinion is divided over the advisability of allowing a fundamentalist organisation a foothold in a state largely free of communal trouble.

The fact that the VHP may decide on the date of commencement of construction of a temple at Ayodhya during the course of its two-day convention in the tourist state has raised many eyebrows.

"It is a shame that the seeds of yet another communal riot are going to be sown in Goa," said Yagneshwar Nigley, a retired government servant and the chief of Committee for Eradication of Superstition.

For records sake, the VHP's Kendriya Margadrashak Mandal is meeting to prepare for its Dharm Sansad scheduled in January 2001 in Prayag.

Around 200 sants, mahants, acharyas and sanyasis are expected to attend the two-day meet at Ramnathi.

The issue of conversions and missionary activities is also likely to come up for discussion at the meet.

"Goa is not an ideal place for such divisive activities," said Rajya Sabha MP Eduardo Faleiro.

He has appealed to the state government - a coalition of Congress rebels led by Francisco Sardinha and the Bharatiya Janata Party - to implement the directives of the National Human Rights Commission and restrain the fundamentalists from making any provocative statements.

"How will Hindu society benefit by building the so-called monument," asks Datta Naik, working president of the Samata Andolan.

Faleiro admits fundamentalism and extremism are growing in all religions, including Christianity. Though he does not wish to comment on the statement made by Pope John Paul II that only Christianity can lead humankind to salvation, he feels that all faiths lead to salvation.

Naik, who is also a leading industrialist, is worried over the participation of leading businessmen in fundamental activities.

Srinivas Dempo, chairman of a leading industrial house in Goa, heads the organising committee of the two-day meet. Dempo, however, is convinced he is doing nothing wrong.

"Though I am not a VHP member, it is my duty as a Hindu to see that the stay of all our religious heads is comfortable in Goa," he says.

While Ashok Chowgule, another local leading industrialist, heads the VHP units of Goa and Maharashtra, he has also succeeded in roping in Shivanand Salgaoncar, another leading industrialist, as the reception committee chairman. The trio also represents Goa's powerful mining lobby.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report