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Hectic lobbying began this year with a group of NRG's
alongwith this writer meeting the Member of Parliament
Rajya Sabha Mr Shantaram L Naik on the lawns of the
Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula on the last date of the Global
Goans Convention, 5/1/2007 requesting him to further
pursue the issue of permitting the Feast of Our Lady
of Springs at Anjediva on 2/2/2007 with the new
incumbent Defence Minister Mr A. K Antony (a former CM
of Kerala).
It may be noted that the MP had earlier last year made
a mention on the floor of the Parliament demanding
that the devotees be permitted to celebrate both the
customary Feasts of Nossa Senhora de Brotas 2nd
February, 2007 and St Francis de Assisi 4th October
(at the now partially ruined Chapel and also to
restore the same).
On 13th January, 2007 this writer wrote an open letter
to the visiting dignitary to Goa viz;His Excellency
the President of Portugal to broach the issue with
the Government of Goa/India during his stay in India.
On 16/01/2007 the Convenor of the World Goa Day - Mr
Rene Barreto, as a follow-up to his discussions with
the MP Mr Naik --on 5/1/2007 appealed thro him in a
letter to the Minister for Defence to direct the INS
Kadamba authorities (Sea Bird ) to make necessary
arrangements for the Feast on 2/2/2007.
On 22/01/2007 this writer appealed to the Defence
Minister and the INS Kadamba to make necessary
arrangements and took serious note of their failure to
permit the devotees on the Island in 2005 and 2006
while they have permitted all and sundry for the Navy
Week into their premises.
Meanwhile a request was also made to the Archbishop
Goa and Daman by this writer on 22/1/2007 to send a
formal letter intimating of the tentative programme
for the Feast on 2/2/2007
The MP Mr Shantaram L Naik on 27/1/2007 in a tele-talk
with this writer assured to pursue the issue with the
Defence authorities and the Defence Minister and a
representation was also sent to him.
On 29/01/2007 this writer had not recieved any
response from the Archbishop's office and hence faxed
a letter to all the Naval authorities and the INS
Kadamba in particular to make all arrangements for the
Feast on 2/2/2007 making it implicit that whether
arrangements were made or not the devotees would
throng to the Island as usual for the Feast as they
did in the last two years 2005, and 2006 when the Navy
refused to permit the faithful to the Island.
After reminders the Archbishop confirmed having sent a
letter to the NOIC INS Kadamaba as late as on
29/01/2007 as below:
*******************************************************
CP/198/2007
January 29, 2007
Dear Cmdre. Ramchandran,
Greetings from Archbishops House, Goa!
I am pleased to write this letter to you, expressing
our continued appreciation for all the interest that
you have been taking in the maintenance of the Church
of Our Lady of Brotas, which lies under the
jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Goa and is situated
on Anjediva Island, now in the possession of the
Indian Navy.
The specific purpose of this letter is to remind you
of the approaching Church Feast at Anjediva Island,
which has been celebrated every year on the 2nd of
February, with the exception of the last two years,
when the concerned naval authorities disallowed the
celebration for security reasons. I write with the
renewed hope that you will not see this traditional
celebration held in the best traditions of Christian
religiosity and discipline -- as a threat to the
security of the Naval Base and that we shall have your
good will and collaboration in arranging for the
holding of the Feast, coming Friday.
May we remind you that INS Kadamba, Karwar has been
made accessible to the general public all and sundry
-- during the annual Navy Week. We would therefore
like to think that a handful of Christian as well as
non-Christian devotees coming to the island of
Anjediva for a single day will be much easier to
handle by the well organized security department of
the Naval Base. As suggested in the year 2005, two
religious services (Holy Masses) could be held, one in
the morning and the other in the afternoon, so that at
no time of the day there is any undue overcrowding in
the island.
On our part, we would like to offer all the possible
collaboration for the smooth organization of the
event. Your positive response to this our letter will
reassure us that the Indian Navy is concerned with
honouring the religious needs and the legitimate
sentiments of the Catholic population of Goa.
Thanking you for it in advance and with kind regards,
I remain,
Yours
sincerely,
sd/- ( + Filipe
Neri
Ferrao)
Archbishop of Goa and
Daman-------------------------------------------
Cmdre. K.P. Ramchandran,
Commanding Officer,
INS Kadamba,
KARWAR 381 301.
CC. by FAX to:
1. Rear Adm. Sanjeev Bhasin, D. G. Seabird, N. Delhi
2. Rear Adm. Vijai Singh Chaudari, C.O.S., Western
Naval Command, Mumbai.
******************************************************
Meanwhile the MP Mr Shantaram L Naik in a teletalk
with this writer this morning on 30/1/2007 informed
that he had a brief talk with the Defence Minister Mr
Antony this morning; adding that while the Defence
Minister evinced keen interest on the issue and found
the demand to be genuine was not commital thus far to
steps he could take to ensure the celebration of the
Feast on 2/2/2007.
Later today 30/1/2007 the Archbishop office was today
informed by this writer that the MP who had requested
for the copy of the representation made by the
Archbishop to the NOIC INS Kadamba did not recieve the
same till late evening and hence a fresh copy was
emailed faxed to him today 30/01/2007 ( as the same
was held up in the "draft" box as confirmed in a
teletalk this evening by the Secretary to His Grace
the Archbishop of Goa and Daman.)
Meanwhile this writer faxed today 30/1/2007 another
letter No:16/6/84-RD dated 19/04/2006 to the MP Mr
Naik written by the Under Secretary, Govt of Goa to
the undersigned (in reply to the representation made
to the Hon'ble Chief Minister Mr Pratapsing Rane in
January, 2006 ) with a copy marked to NOIC INS Kadamba
stating in no uncertain terms that ----the customary
feast must be permitted to be celebrated in terms of
the conditions laid down in 1987, while handing over
the Island, to the Defence authorities---- This was
intended to impress upon the Defence Minister that the
INS Kadamba were renegading on agreed terms.
Incidentally it may be noted that the main reason why
the Feast is not being permitted is owing to a
misundertanding by the Government of Karnataka, which
needs to be cleared by a tripartite meeting of the
Government of Goa, Government of Karnataka and the
Archdiocese of Goa and Daman.
It may be noted that the some politicos from Karwar
insist on holding relgious function on Vijayadashami
day on the firm belief that Goddess Anje fled from the
Island when the Portuguese invaded it. However that
this is only a recent demand. There was never such a
demand made earlier when the devotees from Goa used to
visit the Island for the Feast using the sea route.
Perhaps the Government of Karnataka believed that
since the Parish Priest of St Anne's Church Binaga in
close proximity of the Island used to make all the
necessary arrangements and interact with the Defence
authorities it was the people of Karwar who were
involved. True they did partake in the Feast but
since the Island is in the South Goa district till
date it is the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman and the
Govt of Goa who have a control on the festivities on
the Island and therefore the Government of Karnataka
is only to ensure smooth transit of the devotees via
Karwar Binaga to the Island. They cannot prohibit the
devotees from Goa into the Island.
It is this that needs to be clarified and the
officials from the Archdiocese and the Government of
Goa should pursue this issue in right earnest.
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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