Adv Joaquim Dias quits, accuses Sangh Parivar for misguiding him on anti-Pope yatra

Sandesh Prabhudesai
3 November 1999 

Adv Joaquim Dias, president of the Sanskruti Raksha Manch that is leading the yatra from Goa to Delhi against the Pope's visit to India, today said he does not support the demand of apology from Pope John Paul II for the inquisition carried on during the Portuguese regime here.

The 79-year old freedom fighter, who also announced his resignation from the Manch, blasted the Sangh Parivar for misguiding him on the issue in the name of 'sanskruti' (culture) and misusing and misrepresenting him to carry out their agenda of Hindutva, which he never believed in.

"Why should the innocent Pope apologise for something he was never responsible for", asks Dias, a non-practicing Christian, adding that it is left to the Pope whether he should express regrets for what Church did 450 years ago. He also added that he respects the present Pope for his labour-oriented outlook.

Addressing a press briefing at his residence, the former advocate general of the state also said he would not like to continue with the Sanskruti Raksha Manch. "They have done something wrong to me. I have nothing to do with them", he said, clarifying that neither he attended any meeting nor he knows members of the Manch.

According to Dias, who is bed-ridden nowadays due to illness, the Manch co-ordinator Prof Subhash Velingkar requested him to head the organisation claiming that it is formed to protect the Indian culture. He agreed since he believes in protecting and preserving Indian culture. Velingkar is the local RSS general secretary.

"They started misrepresenting me announcing that I will lead the yatra, which was false. Then they requested me to attend the public rally addressed by Sadhiv Rithambara. I could not keep quite when the Bajrang Dal then went to the extent of claiming that the idea of apology itself originated from me. I think this Dal consists of all mad people", he quipped.

Dias, who has been in the forefront of the Goan freedom movement and was close associate of great freedom fighter like Dr T B Cunha, also expressed regrets over the Manch misusing names of eminent historical personalities like Dr Cunha, Menezes Braganza and Francis Luis Gomes to carry on their campaign.

"What the Manch is doing is much different from what these great personalities believed in and worked for. Dr Cunha's famous essay "Denationalisation of Goans" does not speak about such things. They never believed in the Hindutva ideology", he asserts.

While he totally disagrees with the demand of apology from the Pope, Dias also does not support any kind of conversion from any religion, if it is made forcefully. He however also does not believe that conversions are made through bribery or other corrupt practices.

"I have told all these things much before the yatra began last month, when Mr Velingkar came along with a senior journalist and recorded my interview on a video cassette, stating that they would show it to the Delhi journalists. I wonder why they are delaying it", he says.

Mr Dias appears to be deeply pained with the happenings as, he says, he always believed in leftist ideology and worked sincerely for the upliftment of the downtrodden, no matter what religion they belonged to. "Why should people misuse me when I am in this condition now", he wonders.

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