Indian Mujahideen behind temple desecrations in Goa: BJP

PANAJI - The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Goa Monday alleged the Indian Mujahideen (IM) was behind the spate of temple desecrations taking place in rural parts of the state.

‘We have said in the past that the IM or the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) or whatever they choose to call it now, are one of our chief suspects. The motive in the nearly 30 desecrations is not gain, but to create communal disturbance,’ leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar said at a press conference here.

The latest such incident occurred last Thursday, where seven idols were desecrated at a temple complex in Veroda, Cuncolim, in which several shivlingas and idols of several other deities were found broken and the temple premises vandalised.

‘There is a definite attempt to create communal tension between the Hindus and Muslims living in Goa. So that radicals can get a place to hide and operate,’ Parrikar said.

He added that with each act of temple desecration, the patience of the Hindu community was wearing thin, especially with the ‘lethargic’ police unable to make headway.

Criticising the special investigation team (SIT) specifically formed to probe the desecrations, Parrikar said that the team had been unable to make any headway in their investigation, in face of escalating incidents of desecration.

‘They should at least map out all religious structures located in the relatively remote regions of Goa and increase patrolling in those areas. But they are doing nothing,’ the leader of opposition said.

Parrikar also demanded the immediate sacking of state Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane, who was charged by the police for allegedly threatening to kill a lawyer activist.

‘There is a precedent that this government sacked finance minister Dayanand Narvekar after he was chargesheeted in a criminal offence. Rane should also be asked to resign,’ Parrikar said.