Kundaim: Hours after getting anticipatory bail from the High Court over his statement on St Francis Xavier, former Goa RSS chief Subhash Velingkar accused the governments of failing to reinstate the identity of Goa, which was spoilt during Portuguese rule.
In his public speech addressing a gathering in the presence of Shankaracharya Jyotirmath Swamishri as part of the Go-Dhvaj Sthapana Yatra at Kundaim village in North Goa, Velingkar said that the torture unleashed during the Portuguese-era inquisition will never be forgotten.
“The cruelest court in the name of the Goa Inquisition was set up during Portuguese rule in Goa by Francis Xavier, and it continued for a long 250 years,” said Velingkar.
He said that the cruelty unleashed during the Inquisition cannot be forgotten even now. “Our forefathers were tortured during the inquisition by the priests,” Velingkar added.
The former Goa RSS chief said that during the 500-year-long rule, the Portuguese tried to change the identity of Goa. He said that the region before Portuguese rule was known for its respect towards GoMata (cow).
He said that the successive governments that came to power in Goa after the liberation “failed to reinstate the original identity of the state.”
“Even now, the anti-religious and anti-cultural acts are getting recognition. While on one side we worship GoMata, on the other hand, a commitment has been made (by the government) that there would not be a scarcity of beef. The cow slaughtering has been encouraged,” he said.
Velingkar asked, “What did we achieve after liberation from Portuguese rule?”
“What kind of qualitative change has happened in Goa? I am not talking about development in the form of buildings, roads, and bridges. This is not the change. We have to see what mental change we had after liberation. We failed to have this change,” he said.
Velingkar said that Goa should not be known as “Bhog Bhumi” but as “Punya Bhumi.”
Taking a dig at the politicians, Velingkar said that some have compromised their virtues to win over votes and gain power.
“There is a race to invite the Sunburn festival in Goa; there are night parties. Attempts are being made to corrupt Goan youth through drugs, casinos, and prostitution. All these have come after liberation,” he added.
