With the time running out for the Feast mass at 10 a.m the District Commissioner of Karwar pressed into service Police to man the check post at Sadashivgad a similar batch was posted at Polem. Apparently a message was passed by word of mouth with buses that armed police had been placed at the Gates of the Sea bird which meant the Feast Mass was not underway.
Later at around 1.05 p.m. this writer contacted the Archdiocese of Goa & Daman to ascertain whether any communique was received from New Delhi unfortunately the DCSCM Fr Joaquim Loila Pereira was stated to be "out of station?" and niether could Fr Desmond or another priest confirm his whereabouts. This is sheer abdication of responsibility. The least one could expect from the Archdiocese that their representatives come down to Binaga to lend support to Fr Britto D Silva who has been single handedly doing the ground work for the Anjediv Church at the behest of Archdiocese of Goa. But that was not to be leading the people of Binaga to cast aspersions on the credibility of the Goan authorities. Meanwhile this writer contacted telephonically the Station Commander as access to outsiders was denied to all and sundry and had a 27 minute discussion with him . Cmdr S S Karnik admitted having received the letter from Archbishop of Goa & Daman dated 15.1.2005 He also confirmed having discussed the matter with Fr Britto D Silva as desired by the Archbishop of Goa and Daman. But he also stated that he in fact had sent a reply dated 25th January, 2005 to the Archdiocese of Goa & Daman at the same address on the letter head. But since Fr Pereira denied having recieved any letter till 1.2.2005, this writer requested him to Fax the same to the Archbishop which he promptly agreed to do " de novo ".. He stated that Sea Bird authorities in New Delhi always seek the opinion of the Station Commander to organise any event. Accordingly last year he agreed to do so and did it to the satisfaction of the people of Goa --- (but he did create a rift among the Hindu and Catholic community of Binaga by refusing to allow them in and that perhaps is the reason why the seeds of resentment have been sown in Binaga) But this time he stated that since naval installations are in place and naval excercises are under way there was no possibility of allowing people in the Island. He NEVER stated that it was owing to the demand of a section of some people under Bajrang Dal leader Pramod Mutalik that the Festivities were not permitted. Though the people of karwar know full well it was due to this reason and not for reasons stated by him in his letter to the Archbishop dated 25.1.2005 that the gates were not open even at 1.00 p.m. It was therefore a day without festivities for the first time since the Liberation of Goa and this has grossly affected the religious sentiments of the faithful. This issue needs to be raised in the Goa Assembly and the Parliament. Immediately thereafter this writer spoke to Dr John Dayal telephonically in New Delhi and brought to his notice the ground reality and also informed him that the Anjediva Island is still a part of Canacona Taluka and not of the State of Karnataka. Therefore it is a landmark of history which begun in Goa with the advent of the Portuguese in Goa in 1498 and therefore customary celebration of the Feast of the Church of Our Lady of Springs Nossa Senhora de Brotas (1506) is a bonafide aspiration of the people of Goa and finds mention in the order dated 8/12/1987 of handing over the Island to the Ministry of Defence. If the people of Karwar have been attending the Feast religiously for all these years it is because the parish priest of St Annes Church being in close proximity of the Island used to look after its affairs. But that the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman sleeps is obvious because till this date they are unable to give a convincing reply to the laity as to the reason why the Chapel of St Francis de Assisi whose Feast was celebrated on 4th October is lying in ruins. The same fate would have befallen the Anjediv Church if it was not for the people of Karwar who did their best thro Fr Kurien known as Anjedivacho Pisso and the present Fr Britto's efforts and Goa Chief Minister Mr Manohar Parrikars donation of Rs 25,000 for which the people of Goa and Karwar are always grateful and even found mention at this Mass. Since the issue has now got the personal attention of Dr Dayal and Mr Oscar Fernandes Union Minister, the matter is being dealt with at the Defence level. For this the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman will have to show their willingness to work to protect this Island. It is crystal clear that the Church does not desire to take this problem baby under its arms and hence the half hearted efforts. But this writer is determined to see that the entire committee of the Church body is revamped and more efficient persons are put in place. Anjediv has come to stay in the history of Goa and no one can change its destiny not even the Archbishop of Goa and Daman let this message be loud and clear. Meanwhile Capt Eddie Viegas who is one of the members appointed to look after the Anjediv issue admitted that the committee was defunct long back To set at rest the reason for the non celebration of the Feast the official views of the Station Commander Sea Bird has been posted by this writer on the Karwar Cable Network of Karwar city 08382 229737 Meanwhile the people who have contacted this writer while in Karwar today from Goa Mumbai Delhi Kolakatta Pune Portugal and UK have desired that petitions be addressed to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at [EMAIL PROTECTED] to restore the celebrations of the Feast as usual. Just as they permit the public to enter the Sea Bird during Navy Week. from the Sea Bird venue at Binaga Karwar GODFREY J I GONSALVES [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your life partner online Go to: http://yahoo.shaadi.com/india-matrimony ------------------------ Yahoo! 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