The tensions stem from remarks made by Subhash Velingkar, former Goa unit chief of RSS, concerning St. Francis Xavier, a Catholic missionary revered as the “Protector of Goa.”…reports Asian Lite News
Amid rising tensions in Goa, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sangh Parivar for inciting communal discord.
The protests stem from remarks made by Subhash Velingkar, former Goa unit chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), concerning St. Francis Xavier, a Catholic missionary revered as the “Protector of Goa.”
Velingkar had controversially called for a “DNA test” of the saint’s relics, sparking outrage among the Christian community.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, took a strong stand against the BJP-led state government under Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant. In his statement, Gandhi emphasised Goa’s unique identity as a harmonious, diverse, and peaceful region, attributing much of its charm to its natural beauty and inclusive social fabric.
He accused the BJP of intentionally stoking communal tensions and dividing the people for political gain.
“Under BJP rule, this harmony is under attack,” he said, alleging that Sangh Parivar organizations were promoting an economic boycott of Muslims alongside Velingkar’s provocations against Christians.
According to Gandhi, this divisive agenda is not limited to Goa but is part of a broader national strategy by the Sangh Parivar, backed by high-level support.
He claimed that the BJP is exploiting Goa’s ecological and social heritage by encouraging illegal land conversions and bypassing environmental regulations, further exacerbating tensions.
“The people of Goa and the whole of India see through this divisive agenda and are standing united,” he added.
The protests erupted following Velingkar’s suggestion of a DNA test on the relics of St. Francis Xavier, which are housed at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, a prominent pilgrimage and tourist site.
Velingkar questioned the saint’s legacy and status as Goa’s protector, prompting backlash from the Christian community.
However, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’s national spokesperson, Ramesh Shinde, defended Velingkar, arguing that the DNA test was justified.
He claimed that the body displayed in the church might belong to Rahula, a monk from Sri Lanka, rather than St. Francis Xavier.
In response to the controversy, Goa Forward Party President Vijay Sardesai met with Goa Governor P. S. Sreedharan Pillai, demanding immediate government intervention.
Sardesai expressed concerns that the government’s failure to act was eroding Goa’s image as a land of peace and religious coexistence.
He accused the Sawant administration of deliberately diverting attention from pressing local issues by allowing communal tensions to simmer, thereby damaging the Goan identity, or “Goenkarponn.”
The ongoing protests have led to increased unrest in Goa, as citizens from various communities demand action against Velingkar’s comments.
Sardesai warned that the government’s inaction was not only hurting religious sentiments but also damaging Goa’s longstanding reputation for communal harmony and peaceful coexistence.
‘Three dark clouds’ threatening Indian economy: Jairam
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said that there are “three dark clouds” looming over the Indian economy, which would constrain India’s growth potential in the coming years.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA government, Ramesh said that the “bombastic claims” on the economy were the chokepoints that would strangulate India’s growth in the coming years.
Ramesh stated that the “unsteady path of private sector investment,” the ” stagnation of India’s manufacturing units,” and the “decline of real wages as well as productivity for India’s labourers for the last 10 years” were some “mere issues” that had surfaced in the past few weeks showing “highly detrimental economic trends” in the country.
In a statement released on the social media platform X, the Rajya Sabha MP stated that the private-sector investment during 2022-23 had returned to an unsteady path, and there was a 21 per cent decline in new project announcements made by the sector during the financial years (FY) 2023 and 2024.
He said that this shows the lack of uncertainty and investor’s trust in the Indian consumer markets generated by the government’s “inconsistent policymaking and raid raj.”
“After a brief surge in private sector investment during 2022-23 on the back of the COVID-19 recovery, investment has returned to an unsteady path. New project announcements by the private sector fell by 21 per cent between FY23 and FY24. This reflects a lack of investor confidence in India’s consumer markets and the uncertain investment climate generated by the government’s inconsistent policymaking and Raid Raj,” the statement read.
He said that the formal sector of the country, that is, India Inc., has been focusing on stock market valuation rather than revenue growth with a cue from the government, which according to him would affect the medium- to long-term future of India’s economy.
“In this context, rather than grow their businesses, companies are using profits to reduce debt burdens. We are witnessing a growing financialisation of the Indian economy, with India Inc.–perhaps taking its cue from the government–focussing on stock market valuations rather than top-line revenue growth. This bodes poorly for the medium- and long-term future of the Indian economy as the growth engine of the economy–private sector investment–continues to languish,” he stated.
He said since the launch of the Make in India scheme for the past 10 years, India’s manufacturing has been stagnating or is the same in comparison to the growth of GDP in the country.
He stated that the employment share had marginally declined in the manufacturing unit and India’s share of global merchandise exports has also stagnated.
He asserted that from 2005 to 2015, under the UPA Government, the growth of India’s share in global exports grew much faster.
“Ten years after the government’s flagship Make in India scheme was launched, India’s manufacturing is stagnating. As the share of GDP, manufacturing is the same as it was ten years ago. As a share of total employment, manufacturing has marginally declined. India’s share in global merchandise exports has also largely stagnated, and exports are falling as a share of India’s GDP. In fact, growth in India’s share of global exports grew much faster in the 2005-15 period, largely corresponding to Dr. Manmohan Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister. In labour-intensive sectors like garments, exports have fallen from USD 15 billion in 2013-14 to USD 14.5 billion in 2023-2024,” the statement read.
Referring to the latest report by the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for 2022-23, Ramesh said that there was a decline in the real wages as well as productivity for Indian labourers in the country and that the GVA, which is a measure of labour productivity, had also slowed down from 6.6 per cent in 2014-15 to 0.6 per cent in 2018-19.
He said that the decrease in labour productivity had impacted real wage growth amid rising inflation in the country, resulting in a weak consumption rate as well as low investment in the market restraining India’s growth.
“Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for 2022-2023 has revealed a decline in real wages and productivity for India’s labourers. The growth in GVA per worker (a measure of labour productivity) slowed from 6.6 per cent in 2014-15 to 0.6 per cent by 2018-19. After the COVID era statistical irregularity, worker productivity contracted in FY23 again. This decrease in labour productivity has impacted real wage growth, especially amidst rising inflation. As real wages stagnate, consumption will remain weak, resulting in the low investment that has been a consistent restraint on India’s growth,” he said. (ANI)
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