Desecration of religious symbols Goa has always been a place of religious tolerance, if not of indifference. It is only the politics of hatred and intolerance that has infused this virus .To drive a wedge of separation, discontent is the favourite pastime, of selfish politicians to keep themselves afloat and relevant in the electoral process, The raising of passions and emotions is to pitch one community against the other, Sometimes gullible people ignorant of larger game plan, fall a prey to such diabolic mechanisms .The present atmosphere of mindless violence all over India spreads a sense of apprehensions of safety and security of the minorities. The fringe groups have a sort of unauthorized licence to run wild and not be held responsible or accountable in attempt to rat ch up disputes. In Goa recently there are attempts to destroy sacred symbols of minorities and frequency, number of incidents of vandalism and destruct ions is a cause for concerns . The vandalism in order to camouflage has spread to other minorities , including majority to confuse the plot It is a design to incite the religious feelings and uprising and violent conflicts between religious groups ..For example the picture of Jesus on slippers in Gujerat is in bad taste., Sadam Hussain also put the image of Bush to be sampled upon to show disrespect. The minorities are strong in their faith and these external religious symbols are not germane to their absolute belief. They do help in gathering the believers to pay homage and thus to some extent light the flame of the spirit of religiosity. The killing of Jesus in most brutal and humiliating experience has galvanized the believers over 2000 years and made it more meaningful growing in strength. It is fallacy that destruct ions of these symbols will result in decimation of minority belief. No doubt temporarily, it may shatter peace and tranquility, but it makes the community more united and grow deeper in faith The Democratic Govt owes to the public the maintenance of peace and amity between the communities of various religious faith. The current Govt, in Goa is made up of a number of minority components and it is unlikely they will be happy to get the back lash due to any indirect patronization. It is equally difficult to identify these violators and may take time to be detected ,Past experience, if recalled led to such incidents being fermented by deranged and sick minds. Goa is strong and free of communal fires and no attempt to replicate such incidents will succeed here as communities have co existed peacefully side by side.The recent trend is put up religious symbols all over and specially at every corner and can be fodder for such sectarian, disgruntled elements, The churches, chapels are within everyone`s reach for religious practices and there must be rethink and discourage on construction innumerable crosses.
Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
