Citizens' Initiatives has march for Free and Secular Goa,
demands Release of Sanvordem Enquiry Report
On the occasion of 45th Mukti Din (Liberation Day) of Goa, Citizens'
Initiatives for Communal Harmony (CICH) organised a rally in Panjim on the
theme "Towards a Free and Secular Goa". Citizens marched through the streets
of Panjim and demanded an end to attempts to communalise Goa. Starting from
Azad Maidan, the rally wended its way through the streets of Panjim before
returning to the Azad Maidan.
Speaking at the rally, (CICH) Co-Convenor Ramesh Gauns called for the
government to release the report of the enquiry into the Sanvordem-Curchorem
communal violence in March 2006. Pointing out that six months have now
passed since May 2006, when the enquiry under the North Goa District
Collector was set up, he charged that the government is not showing any
seriousness about the issue and demanded that the government put before the
people the report at the earliest.
Com. Christopher Fonseca of AITUC said that communal forces must be defeated
and commended the efforts of CICH in creating awareness on the issue of
communalism and its dangers. He stressed the important role that the working
class has to play in ensuring that communal forces do not succeed in their
designs of dividing the people. He said that a society in which there is no
true equality between all people is not a just society. Ms. Sabina Martins
from Bailancho Saad pointed out that while a public outcry against
communalism is necessary, it is equally important to ensure we guard against
communal practices in our day to day lives, be it in the home, workplace or
anywhere. She also emphasized that tokenism should be avoided. Mr. Prajal
Sakhardande of Goa Heritage Action Group recalled the significance of
Liberation Day and the history behind the naming of Azad Maidan and stated
that Goa's communal harmony is its heritage which must be preserved. Poet
Mr. Ramesh Veluskar stated that the unity of all progressive forces was the
need of the hour if communal harmony had to be restored and sustained.
Mr.Dadu Mandrekar, noted Ambedkarite activist, spoke about the importance of
fighting the evil of caste, and urged the audience to strive for building a
society that does not discriminate on the basis of caste, religion or
gender. Mr. Deepak Bandigere of Lifeline called for transparency in the
functioning of the system which would then leave little scope for rumour
mongering.
Statements about aspirations for a free and secular Goa were also made
through cultural presentations. A skit on the avarice of Goa's politicians
that prevents the Goan dream from being realized was presented by the
students of Government College, Khandola. The children's group from Arz,
Vasco, presented a skit "Hum Vahan ke bacche hain" showing how children of
poor migrants are discriminated and treated badly, and how changes need to
be made to ensure that no child is neglected or mistreated by the system.
The Rang-Ixtt theatre group presented a mime done by the children which
showed the importance of unity. The chidren's group from Jan Ugahi, Margao,
performed a skit showing how the seed of discrimination is sown in
children's minds at home and in school, and what can be done by committed
teachers to combat this. Various songs, poems, etc. were also presented by
artists from Goa. An oath was then taken at Azad Maidan to work towards a
Goa where everybody's dreams and specially those of the toiling masses would
have space, where the strategy of divide and rule would be comprehensively
defeated and where land, water, and natural resources are sustained in
people's hands.
In the evening, the 3-day exhibiton on the theme "Towards a Free and Secular
Goa" co-ordinated by Dipti Arolkar of Citizens' Initiatives for Communal
Harmony, concluded at the Menezes Braganza Hall. The exhibition featured a
work "Goa Darshan" by late noted artist Chandrakant Kerkar. There were also
paintings by Sheetal Volvoikar, Dennis D'Souza, Priya Naik and Seema
Kanekar. Rangolis on the theme of unity of faiths created by Ajay Khandolkar
of Goa Shipyard and Seema Kanekar were appreciated by the people who visited
the exhibition. The coexistence of diversity and the need for its sustenance
was the highlight of the exhibition.
Albertina Almeida Ramesh Gauns
Co-convenors
Citizens' Initiatives for Communal Harmony
