Devious Designs (Soter)

lETTER TO EDITOR published in Herald and Gomantak Times dated 25th Septmeber 2013 Devious designs The recent spate of attacks on Christian religious places witnessed in Goa deserves outright condemnation. This is a moment for the Christians to educate themselves on the devious designs of the sectarian forces which feel encouraged nowadays. The vandalisation of a Christian graveyard at Curchorem a few days after the BJP government assumed power was blamed on the opposition party to avenge its electoral defeat. In the Benaulim tabernacle incident, the suspicion is being diverted to Christian sects. The Tolecanto graveyard incident was claimed to be the work of a mentally deranged person. In the latest Assolna incident, we should not be surprised if opposition groups are blamed for attempts to polarize the communities in the run- up to the 2014 election. But for those who are familiar with the operations of sectarian forces in other States, the timing of these recent attacks and the precision with which they were carried out are worrying. The Chief Minister says police cannot be in every nook and corner of the State and that may be true, but should it have been a Congress government in power right now the reasoning would have been completely different! The sectarian logic of development and good governance is quite complex for the ordinary mind to comprehend. Soter D'Souza, Socorro