Panaji, Dec 2 (IANS) Two Congress MPs from Goa have accused the Indian Navy of being anti-Christian and are lobbying with Defence Minister A.K. Antony against attempts made by the force to acquire two islands off Goa’s coast.
In a memorandum submitted to Antony Thursday, Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik and South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha also accused the naval authorities of land-hogging in Goa, after the Indian Navy formally approached the state government some months back to acquire two islands – Grande and Pequeno – located off the Baina coast, 30 km from here, ‘in order to counter security threat to the airfield and runway approach of the Dabolim airport’.
‘When an island known as Anjadiva island of the south Goa coast was handed over by the Goa government to Indian Navy upon their similar request a few years back, the navy despite signing an MoU is now refusing to permit the Christian community to visit the church situated on the island,’ the MPs said.
‘People are taken to the island on the (occasion of) Navy Day under security, but the navy is not willing to follow the same procedure in case of the visit by members of the Christian community,’ Naik said, adding civilians felt helpless when the military authorities hid under the excuse of security for every issue.
Naik claims there’s another reason behind the Indian Navy’s insistence on acquiring the islands.
‘The two islands, if acquired, are likely to be utilised by the navy for purposes other than national security as, it is learnt, a few years back some ex-navy men were inquiring with the owners of the islands about purchasing the land,’ he said.
‘There is a cross, as well as a tulsi, at one of the islands, and a ladainha (litany) is held at the cross once every year,’ he said.
