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Visit http://www.garcabranca.com for details/booking/confirmation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ COMMUNALISM WATCH :: GOA ------------------------------------------------------------ Hindu samiti alarmed over 'forced' conversions HERALD March 18, 2007 Page 3 By Herald Reporter PANJIM, March 17 -- The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has demanded strong action against the people forcing conversions through force. According to HJS, conversion of faith through force or allurement is on the rise in Goa. And, if forced conversions are not stopped, it would lead to a big law and order problem in the state. Forced conversion by the Believers has been causing unrest among Hindus. The convenor of the HJS Jayesh Thaly told a press conference on Saturday here that forced conversions have risen in Mapusa. Conversions are executed by alluring or forcing people. The "Believers" group have designed a conversion ploy to convert Hindus in Mapusa, alleged thaly, and added this is evident from the increased conversions in Mapusa. Last year, the Believers organised a programme for the conversion of Hindus at Parra, but had to give up their plan when locals opposed strongly, forcing the administration to issue orders to cancel the programme, he said. The HJS and other like-minded organisations have submitted a memorandum to the police and the administrative authorities, demanding immediate action to stop such conversion activities. According to Thaly, the Believers have attempted to forcefully convert Hindus in Moira, Ponda, Parra and Mapusa. *** PARRIKAR CALLS FOR DEEPER PROBE INTO SANVORDEM RIOTS Welcomes magisterial inquiry report NAVHIND TIMES * MARCH 22, 2007 NT Staff Reporter Panaji, March 22 Welcoming the magisterial inquiry report into last year's communal riots at Sanvordem-Curchorem, the Bharatiya Janata Party said that a deeper investigation should be carried out into the incident to pin down the real conspirators. the leader of the Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar, addressing a press conference this morning said the Collector (North Goa) Mr Nikhil Kumar who carried out the inquiry and prepared a report had done a good job. "He should be congratulated for providing a true picture to the public, inspite of mounting pressures from various quarters on him, during the inquiry period," he added. The inquiry report, released yesterday, had blamed the failure to control the riots on intelligence gathering, and also exposed the inefficiency of the Goa police in handling such episodes. Speaking further, Mr Parrikar said that all the attempts of the Congress party to involve the BJP in these riots had now been nullifed by the report. "The BJP now demands a deeper investigation to find out about the people who conspired in the incident," he stated. The leader of the Opposition also pointed out that the findings of the BJP's Fact Finding Mission were similar to the findings of the magisterial inquiry report, and the shortcomings of the government were rightly traced by the mission as well as the report. Mr Parrikar noted that the government was well aware of the events which led to the March 2005 communal riots, but did nothing to control them, as also allowed the public passions to simmer. Replying to a question as regards the recommendation of the report about providing a mosque, a madarasa as well as a kabrastan to the Muslim population in the riot affected area, Mr Parrikar said that any civil society should take the responsibility of providing cremation ground as well as prayer house to the people of any community in its jurisdiction. "As for the madarasa, it should be allowed so as to provide religious education to the Muslim children," Mr Parrikar said. "But these children should not be cut off from their formal education." The leader of the Opposition also assured that if the BJP comes to power, it would ensure provision of these basic needs for the Muslim population, after discussing the same with the leaders of the community and the residents of the respective areas. Answering another question, Mr Parrikar said, "The observation of the report that the BJP leaders were seen in teh area of the riots on March 5 and 6, 2006 [?], can be justified as the MLAs of Sanvordem and Curchorem belonged to the BJP and had to visit the riot-torn localities." The leader of the Opposition also demanded a thorough inquiry into the role of the AICC general secretary and in-charge of the Goa desk of the Congress party, Ms Margaret Alva in allegedly receiving Rs 31.25 lakh as party donation from the on-contract health workers of the Directorate of Health Services, in return for confirming their jobs. He also said that the investigation should be undertaken as regards who was responsible for the payment of lakhs of rupees worth bills, for giving advertisements on newspapers, in the name of these on-contract health workers, congratulating the Health Minister, Mr Dayanand Narvekar. Prosecuting Mr Shirish Naik for promptly offering receipt of the money was meaningless without bringing to book the bigwigs behind the scam, Mr Parrikar added. He also charged the Congress ministers with fooling the public with inane promises about various issues, ranging from recruitment in government jobs to completion of projects like the Ravindra Bhavan, at Margao. * * * Milli Council says report on riots clears baselles charges HERALD, MARCH 22, 2007 Herald Reporter VASCO, MARCH 21 – All-India Milli Council State President Iqbal Mohidin has stated that the magisterial report on the Curchorem-Sanvordem riots is significant for the Goan Muslims, as it has exonerated them of the allegations that Muslims were responsible for the riots as they had brought "armed outsiders" to Goa. "The report as 'much delayed but much awaited' as the peace-loving Goan Muslims were deeply hurt when such baseless allegations were levied against us. In fact, our community had only assembled for a peaceful procession against the demolition of the religious structure. It is important for us that we have been relieved of the charge by the magisterial inquiry into the whole incident," said Mohidin. He claimed the report had rightly pointed out that the local panchayat had failed to resolve the issue of the religious structure by not adopting conciliatory and consultative measures. Mohidin also agreed with the report that the police had also bfailed to invite leaders of both the communities for a dialogue. "No matter how grave the situation is, there is always a scope for a solution as long as broad-minded, peace-loving and secular persons from both communities are invited for a constructive dialogue by the authorities," added Mohidin. The Milli Council has demanded that the state government takes strict action against all those officers who have failed to act with responsibility and allowed the situation to go out of control. Mohidin said the Goa state body of the Milli Council has welcomed the recommendation of the district magistrate for establishment of 'State riot control forces' to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future. He requested the government allot land to the Hindus, Christians and Muslims at Guddemol to build a temple, church and a mosque. "Guddemol, which was the epicentre of violence and hatred, can become a symbol of communal harmony and peaceful coexistence in future," he added. * * * http://oheraldo.in/node/23290 Probe indicts none, says riots pre-planned HERALD MARCH 21 BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 20 – The Magisterial inquiry which went into the Curchorem-Sanvordem communal riots in early March last year, has concluded that "it is intuitively and logically reasonable to presume" that there was a pre-planned and pre-conceived orientation to the communal riots but in the absence of any tangible evidence, it is not possible to identify or pinpoint the actual persons or organisations responsible for it. The inquiry report submitted by the North Goa District Collector and District Magistrate Nikhil Kumar was made public by the government on Tuesday. Going through the issue in detail, the Magistrate said the violence that occurred on March 3-4 was in the nature of an eruption which was precipitated due to the building up of continuous tension and strain between the two communities -- Hindus and Muslims -- over the past many months. In December 2005, there was resentment among the majority community over the construction/renovation of an alleged illegal structure used as madrasa in Guddemol village situated in a government property. The pressure-cooker scenario continued to exacerbate culminating in the demolition of the illegal structure on March 1. The subsequent proposed peace march by the Muslim community and spiteful rumour mongering about influx of armed outsiders of the Muslim community from Bhatkal, etc, resulted in violence, loot and arson on March 3-4, the report said. The State government had asked the District Magistrate to conduct the inquiry by an order dated May 10 after the communal riots in Cuchorem-Sanvordem on March 3-4, 2006 had caused a scar on Goa's communal harmony. The report also highlights the failure of the police, village panchayat, and other authorities in nipping such situations in the bud before they go out of hand. Remedial measures are also suggested by the Magistrate to prevent such incidents from occurring in future. * * * http://oheraldo.in/node/23345 Kabrastan issue takes a grave turn HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MARCH 21 —Tension rent the air at the District Collectorate building here on Wednesday morning as anti-kabrastan protestors turned up in sizeable numbers, sending a stern warning to the politicians and bureaucrats that the people of Margao are opposed to land acquisition for expansion of the kabrastan atop Pajifond hillock. Verbal arguments also ensued between a supporter of the burial grounds and an anti-kabrastan activist inside the office of the Land Acquisition Officer, Venancio Furtado, who had to intervene to bring down frayed tempers. Anti-kabrastan protestors came in a morcha at the Collectorate co-inciding with the hearing of objections before the land acquisition officer. The land owner, Savio Clovis de Costa was not present since he was indisposed. The matter was later adjourned. Advocate Anacleto Viegas, who has objected to the land acquisition proceedings, alongwith some activists were seen in the office of the land acquisition officer. Also present were a group of Muslims led by secretary of Jamia Masjid, Atik Bandukada. Outside, the anti-kabrastan activists demanded that the government save Goa for Goans. Pamphlets distributed by the protestors said the people of Margao are opposed to the "land grab" at Pajifond because the so-called recent agitation by Blood of Goans Front was conducted in a threatening manner. While asking the people to join hands to stop the injustice, the activists said that residential areas are mostly within three to ten metres away from the land sought to be acquired for the land grab, when the law states that no graveyard can come within 30 metres of any residential structure. "The mischievous elements who conducted the agitation have made false and fabricated statements that there was no space for burying their dead within the existing kabrastan admeasuring 14,500 square metres when almost half of it is actually vacant," the protestors maintained. Meanwhile, the Blood of Goans' Front has clarified that the vacant space inside the kabrastan is not vacant as is claimed by the land owner, but is being used for namaz for the dead. Front President Urfan Mulla further ruled out pollution and landslide in the 7000 square metres of land under acquisition. "The Muslim community intend to convert the existing open space used for prayers to bury the dead and use the acquired land for prayer purpose," he clarified. (ENDS) _______________________________________________ Goanet-news mailing list Goanet-news@lists.goanet.org http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-news-goanet.org