Sandesh Prabhudesai
26 July 1998
Majority members of the Goa Assembly have expressed their displeasure over BJP government's attempted move in Delhi to denotify churches as places of worship since sacramental wine is consumed there. The local Congress government has assured the House to take up the issue with Delhi government.
Though the issue has been put to rest by the Delhi government and even BJP's central leaders clarified its position on the issue, the Goa Assembly preferred to discuss a private resolution moved by United Goans Democratic Party MLA Arecio D'Souza, who is awaiting to join the Congress along with his leader Churchill Alemao.
The opposition, including the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the BJP members, boycotted the House proceedings in protest of overruling their objections to the resolution by speaker Tomazinho Cardoz. Passing strictures on Delhi administration could attract breach of privileges, argued state opposition leader Dr Kashinath Jalmi.
The resolution was withdrawn after discussion since chief minister Pratapsing Rane assured the House to take up the issue with the Delhi government and convey its sentiments to them. "Discussion on the issue is necessary considering gravity of the issue", ruled the speaker.
Overlooking BJP MLA Manohar Parrikar's argument that the Delhi government had even allowed the Delhi Archbishop to import 1500 litres of sacramental wine from Goa, most of the Christian MLAs clamped down upon the BJP for dividing the country on religious lines and creating communal tension among communities for vote bank politics.
Though Goa has only 30 per cent Catholic population, they dominate the whole coastal belt, which is famous for tourism. Going against the provisions of the excise act, the state administration here has allowed over 600 liquor bars within 100 metres of places of worship and schools. Around 500 among them are close to the churches and temples, mainly along the coastal belt.
Rane however justifies relaxation of excise rules, claiming that it has been allowed to boost the tourism industry in the state.
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