For the fifth consecutive year the Sea Bird officials refrained the faithful
from celebrating the customary feast of NOSSA SENHORA DE BROTAS at Anjediva
today 2/2/2009 citing yet another alibi.
This writer however has sent in this formal protest today against the Defence
authorities for their blatant disregard to an emotive issue which amounts to a
deliberate curb on our freedom to profess & practice ones religion.
The Chief of Naval Staff and the Naval officer in charge Karwar have dealt with
utter disregard to letters No: CP/110/2008 and No: CP/110/2009 dt 16/01/2009
18/01/2009 to allow the faithful to celebrate the customary feast. But the
response was negative, with yet another alibi.
This is obvious because the HEADS OF CATHOLIC UNIONS IN INDIA AND GOA IN
PARTICULAR HAVE NOT TAKEN COGNIZANCE OF THIS ISSUE. EVEN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF
GOA AND DAMAN HAS REACTED ONLY OWING TO PUBLIC OUTCRY. WHILE THE VICE
CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR MINORITIES TOO HAS NOT FOUND THE TIME
TO PURSUE THIS VITAL ISSUE. THERE IS NO POINT IN POST MORTEMS WE NEED HARD AND
ASSERTIVE ACTION.
The next course of action is being planned, to ensure our legitimate rights. If
the elected representatives of the people have failed to react then the people
should step in and prove their resolve to undo the injustice.
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02/02/2009
To,
Shri A K Antony,
Hon’ble Union Minister fro Defence,
South Block
NEW DELHI
Sir,
NOIC – KARWAR HAS VIDE No: 858/P/GC DT. 15TH January, 2009 STATED THAT DUE
TO CURRENT SECURITY SCENARIO, IN THE COUNTRY AND RECENT TERRORIST THREAT TO
NAVAL BASE WHICH HAS COME OUT IN THE MEDIA - NO VISITOR IS BEING ALLOWED
INSIDE THE BASE.
DIRECTOR (N-I) VIDE DO NO:15(11)/2008/D(N-111) DT. 10TH SEPTEMBER, 2008 STATED
THAT IN 2004 THERE WAS A LAW AND ORDER PROBLEM AND THE DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATION (read as KARWAR) HAS - NOT RECOMMENDED RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES
WITHIN THE NAVAL BASE.
NOIC VIDE LT (KT)/117 DT 01/02/2007 STATED THAT DUE TO DEFENCE EXERCISE IN
PROGRESS THE RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY NEEDS TO BE WITHELD
DIR GEN PROJ SEABIRD VIDE LT DT 20/01/2006 STATED ISSUE IS HANDLED BY NOIC
(KARWAR
NOIC VIDE LT NO (KT)/117 DT 01/02/2006 STATED DUE TO OPERATIONAL AND SECURITY
REASONS HIGHER AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT APPROVED PERMISSION.
COMMANDER SB ON 24/01/2005 ORALLY COMMUNICATED ON THAT AS THE BASE IS
ALMOST OPERATIONAL AND NAVAL EXERCISES ARE GOING ON AND WARSHIPS ARE IN PLACE
NO PERMISSION CAN BE GRANTED
UNION MINISTER FOR DEFENCE VIDE LT DATED 25/09/2002, 29/04/2003 AND
19/07/.2003 STATED IN REPLY TO LT FROM GOA CM AND LEADER OF OPPOSITION IN LOK
SABHA THAT - ACCORDING TO STATION COMMANDER SEABIRD – A DOZEN TEMPLES HAVE
BEEN SHIFTED FROM THE ISLAND TO THE MAINLAND HENCE WE NEED TO FOLLOW AN UNIFORM
POLICY TOWARDS ALL PEOPLE
ALL THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ALIBI TO DENYING THE FAITHFUL FROM THEIR LEGITIMATE
RIGHT TO WORSHIP A “ LIVING MONUMENT “ AND IN VIOLATION OF THE AGREED TERMS
ON 08/12/1987 OF THE GOVT OF GOA. THE SEA BIRD AUTHORITIES HOWEVER PERMIT
VISITORS ON NAVY DAY
· NATIVES OF KARWAR, INFORM THAT IT WAS THE STATION COMMANDER –
COMMODORE B R RAO WHO HAD CREATED THIS POLARISATION ON RELIGIOUS AND REGIONAL
LINES BEFORE HE LEFT on 31/10/2003. SEA BIRD OFFICIALS WERE NON CO-OPERATIVE
TOWARDS THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND THE KARWAR MUNICPAL CORPORATION.
DURING HIS TENURE.
· ONLY THE SOMNATH TEMPLE ON MAINLAND WAS DEMOLISHED WITH CONSENT OF
THE LOCALS AND A NEW ONE CONSTRUCTED AT KILLEBAG NEAR BINAGA KARWAR NOT
DOZEN OF TEMPLES. AS MISINFORMED BY COMMODORE B R RAO . THE CHURCH IS A
LIVING MONUMENT AND AN ARCHAEOLOGIC SITE HENCE CANNOT BE SHIFTED .
· IT WAS COMMODORE S S KARNIK WHO IN 2004 PERMITTED THE PEOPLE OF GOA
TO THE ISLAND BUT COULD NOT PERMIT THOSE FROM KARWAR DUE TO THE INIMICAL TERMS
BETWEEN SEA BIRD OFFICIALS AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND KARWAR MUNICIPAL
CORPORATION THIS LED TO THE NEAR LAW AND ORDER PROBLEM. AS THE FEAST WAS
TRADITIONALLY CELEBRATED BY ALL RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES FROM GOA AND KARWAR, AS
“ZORINCHEM SAIBINN”
· OWING TO THIS THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION ISSUED AN ORDER BANNING ANY
FESTIVITIES ON THE ISLAND. HOWEVER THIS ORDER IS ILLEGAL AS THE STATE OF
KARNATAKA CANNOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE ISLAND OF ANJEDIVA WHICH IS STILL A
PART OF GOA AND HAS NOT BEEN CEDED BY AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT TILL DATE. THOUGH
TRANSFERRED TO THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE.
· A MENTION WAS MADE IN THE RAJYA SABHA BY SHRI SHANTARAM L NAIK O
01/03/2006 BUT SINCE 2005 FOR FIVE YEARS NOW THE BAN CONTINUES.
· GOVT OF GOA VIDE LT DATED 19/04/2006 MAINTAINS THAT THE NAVY IS BOUND
TO ALLOW THE CUSTOMARY FEASTS ON 2ND FEB AND 4TH OCT (ST FRANCIS DE ASSISI
WHOSE CHAPEL IS IN RUINS NOW NOT MAINTAINED BY THE NAVY )
· MEANWHILE THE LOCAL MLA OF KARWAR HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY THIS WRITER TO
DIRECT THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF KARWAR TO WITHDRAW /OR RESTRICT HIS BAN ORDER
ONLY TO HIS AREAS WITHIN THE STATE IN HIS JURISDICTION AND NOT TO ANJEDIV WHICH
IS STILL A PART OF GOA. OTHER ROUTE TO THE ISLAND VIA GALGIBAG CANACONA TALUKA
BY SEA IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR REVIVAL AS BEFORE.
WILL YOU SIR KINDLY ORDER AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE AND RESOLVE
THE SAME AS SUCH HIGHANDEDNESS IS ANNOYING THE SENTIMENTS OF THE FAITHFUL.
WITH KIND REGARDS,
GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES,
BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA)
+91 98221 58584 (24 HRS)
[email protected]
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