Sandesh Prabhudesai
9 June 2000
While police is tight-lipped over the progress into the investigations over the bomb blast in the Church here, the political parties have immediately jumped at it to gain political benefit out of it.
The Goa church however has categorically stated that it suspects a plot against the minorities into it. "It is an attempt to disturb the communal harmony practised in Goa for so many years", alleges Fr Carmo Martins, the Church spokesman.
Though it was taken as a stray incident initially, the local police have been now viewing it from national angle as similar blasts have also taken place in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. "We are examining all the possible angles", says DIG Karnal Singh, but declines to comment further.
Observing that such an incident has taken place for the first time in the history of Goa, Congress leader Luizinho Faleiro has indirectly pointed out at the BJP, since it is today sharing power in Francisco Sardinha's coalition government.
"Even if my cabinet colleague is involved in it, I will not spare him", shot back Sardinha replying to whether he also suspects hand of the Sangh Parivar. The cabinet today also decided to give assistance of Rs one lakh for the damage the blast has caused to the Church building in Vasco, the port town.
Though not a major one, the 80 cm-wide wall has developed cracks and the ancient paintings in the 300-year old Church are also broken into pieces. The country-made bomb, kept on the window adjacent to the cemetery, blasted five minutes after the school students got into their classes after interval, at 10.50 am on Thursday.
"It is not a mere accident, but much more than that. It appears that some uncultured people want to disturb the communal harmony and establish their rule here", alleges Fr Carmo Martins, the Church spokesman, though he declines to name anybody in particular.
While condemning the incident along with all the political parties, the BJP however is not surprised at the sharp reaction from the Church. "But we are equally confident that the Goa Church will never point fingers at us", claims Satish Dhond, the local party general secretary.
On the contrary, he suspects hand of the opposition Congress to destabilise the government. "They have killed their own leaders for political gains in the past. Don't you think they can damage their own religious places simply to destabilise the government", asks Dhond.
Though it comprises mere 30 per cent of Goan population, the Catholics have been the traditional vote bank of the Congress here, besides cross-sections of the Goan society. A breakaway group led by Sardinha had however split from the Congress in November last year, forming a coalition with the BJP.
See earlier story
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