FIR Filed Against YouTuber for Remarks on Goa's Patron Saint; Organizers Apologize
Goa Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against YouTuber Gautam Khattar for allegedly making derogatory remarks about St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa. The incident occurred during a 'Bhagwan Parshuram Janmotsav' event in Vasco, organized by the Sanatan Dharm Raksha Samiti. Following a complaint by Congress leader Peter D’Souza citing hurt religious sentiments and disturbed communal harmony, authorities initiated an investigation. The event organizers subsequently issued an apology to the Christian community, condemning Khattar’s statements and clarifying that they immediately stopped him during the speech. Political backlash was swift, with opposition parties including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and Goa Forward Party demanding Khattar’s immediate arrest. They emphasized that such rhetoric threatens Goa’s longstanding communal peace and insults devotees who revere St. Francis Xavier, known locally as 'Goencho Saib'. The case highlights ongoing sensitivities regarding religious speech and inter-community relations in the region, with police continuing their probe into the matter.
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FIR Filed Against YouTuber for Remarks on Goa's Patron Saint; Organizers Apologize
Goa Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against YouTuber Gautam Khattar for allegedly making derogatory remarks about St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa. The incident occurred during a 'Bhagwan Parshuram Janmotsav' event in Vasco, organized by the Sanatan Dharm Raksha Samiti. Following a complaint by Congress leader Peter D’Souza citing hurt religious sentiments and disturbed communal harmony, authorities initiated an investigation. The event organizers subsequently issued an apology to the Christian community, condemning Khattar’s statements and clarifying that they immediately stopped him during the speech. Political backlash was swift, with opposition parties including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and Goa Forward Party demanding Khattar’s immediate arrest. They emphasized that such rhetoric threatens Goa’s longstanding communal peace and insults devotees who revere St. Francis Xavier, known locally as 'Goencho Saib'. The case highlights ongoing sensitivities regarding religious speech and inter-community relations in the region, with police continuing their probe into the matter.
The Indian Express