Panaji: The Save Old Goa Action Committee has objected to govt notifying the New Pillory at Old Goa as ‘Haat Katro Khambo’ (Pelourinho Novo), claiming there is no historical evidence to support the name.Committee members said they had submitted objections to directorate of archaeology and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Goa Circle, when suggestions were invited before the notification.“There is no historical evidence of this pillar being called Haat Katro Khambo (Pelourinho Novo), yet the government has notified it. This is nothing but an election gimmick. They must prove the ‘hand-cutting’ claim within 15 days, else rectify the name to New Pillory or Pelourinho Novo,” committee member Peter Viegas said.Viegas also criticised those who celebrated the notification along with chief minister Pramod Sawant.The committee said the pillar already lies within the buffer zone of UNESCO World Heritage Site and questioned the need to separately declare it a protected site.Resident Vincent D’Silva said the move appeared to be part of an attempt to distort history.“When Gautam Khatter came to Goa and tried to instigate people by defaming St Francis Xavier as a terrorist, it backfired because the people of Goa will not believe false narratives,” D’Silva said. “Even in the case of the New Pillory, there appears to be an attempt to distort history and create disharmony among Goans.”
