The Catholic Association of Goa (CAG) also filed a complaint with Vasco police, holding three Mormugao MLAs present at the event equally responsible and demanding a public apology from them.A group led by Pratima Coutinho gathered at South Goa police headquarters, raising slogans against Khattar, elected representatives present at the event, and BJP govt. Police shut the main gate to regulate the crowd seeking to meet the SP and demand registration of an FIR.Former MLA Churchill Alemao issued a warning, stating that if such attacks on Christians continue, people may “take law into their own hands” and he would “step forward to lead.In the evening, Benaulim Congress block president Keith Gracias, along with around 100 supporters, submitted a memorandum to Colva police inspector Vikram Naik, demanding an FIR under sections 302, 196, 299 and 352 of the BNS for allegedly disturbing communal harmony.Chief minister Pramod Sawant urged organisers not to disturb communal harmony by inviting such speakers. Goa police registered an FIR on Sunday after a video of Khattar’s remarks went viral. “Organisers should first warn the speakers. We have already registered an FIR,” Sawant said.Transport minister Mauvin Godinho said he attempted to intervene, “The organisers did not inform us who the speakers were. We expected to hear something good. We were shocked and tried twice to ask the organiser to stop the speech. If we had tried to stop it forcefully, there could have been a law and order situation.”Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade said the remarks were wrong and clarified that it was not a govt function.Goa Congress president Amit Patkar demanded Khattar’s immediate arrest and a ban on those involved in hate speech from entering the state. South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes, said, “This policy of BJP will fail because Goa is an epitome of communal harmony.”Former MP Narendra Sawaikar said, “Having a social media presence does not qualify someone as an expert on every subject. We Goans know what is right for us.” He added that Goa’s cultural heritage and unity remain its most valued strengths.
