Why was Kejriwal permitted his publicity stunt inside the Basilica of Bom Jesus, before the Blessed Sacrament, ask angry Goans?

PANAJI: A section of Catholics in Goa are up in arms against what they term as the misuse and desecration of the Basilica of Bom Jesus, the resting place of Goa’s patron Saint, Francis Xavier or Goencho Saib, for political mileage for an individual politician or political party.

The reason for their anger is understandable. They allege that Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal’s much publicized visit to the Shrine was nothing but a well-planned publicity stunt, with media persons and cameras in tow and PR machinery ready with press releases, video bytes and footage.

They opine that if Kejriwal really wanted the blessings of St Francis Xavier, he should have gone there without cameras and mediapersons. Instead, he chose paid PR managers and spin doctors to accompany him, not just for publicity in Goa in a run up to the Assembly polls, but also to get his mug splashed in Delhi papers later on. “We all know how Kejriwal is famous for his paid advertising in the NCR region and someday his photos before the Blessed Sacrament and the relics of Francis Xavier will appear as paid advertisements in Delhi papers,” said Tulip George of Panjim, reminding the Basilica management that they are promoting individual politicians, whose sole aim is to win elections at any cost, even if they have to prostate themselves before all the churches, temples and mosques in the country.

How did the management of the Shrine allow such nautanki and publicity stunts, asked Gavin Mendes of Old Goa, stating that the Blessed Sacrament is not to be displayed, merely for media coverage and political mileage of a politician.

“We hold Pratima Coutinho responsible for this shameful act. There is a smirk on her face in some of the media footage, we saw. Let us tell the AAP in Goa and Ms Pratima Coutinho, that you can fool Goans, but you cannot fool Goencho Saib,” Mendes retorted angrily, further adding that AAP leader Raghav Chadda was very quick to compare Navjot Singh Sidhu to drama queen Rakhi Sawant, but he forgot that his own boss is the queen bee of all the Rakhi Sawants’ in the world.

Mendes said Goans and particularly Goan Catholics should remember when they go out to vote in 2022, about this incident, how AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal tried to gain political mileage by desecrating the Blessed Sacrament for his own selfish reasons.

In a press release sent to local Goan media as well as the national press, the AAP stated that the Delhi CM visited the Basilica with leaders from AAP Goa. He spent time in prayer and quiet contemplation at the Basilica. Rev Fr Patricio briefly explained the history of the church to Kejriwal and its importance to Goa. Fr Patricio explained to Kejriwal about St Francis Xavier as well. He also visited the relics of St Francis and paid his respects. Fr Patricio blessed Kejriwal along with all the other leaders present with the blessing of the Blessed Sacrament and relics. Kejriwal then made his offerings and spent a few minutes in prayer and quiet contemplation in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

This is nothing but a PR exercise, with a meticulously drafted press release and carefully selected words to hoodwink Goan Catholics, create a religious bias and use of religion and religious sentiments for political gains, Mendes asserted, calling upon Goan Catholics to demand an apology from Kejriwal and Pratima Coutinho for using the relics of the state’s Patron Saint, the Blessed Sacrament and the Shrine, for media coverage.

“Today it’s Kejriwal, tomorrow a Taliban leader will visit the Shrine to get coverage in the national and international media. The priests at the Basilica should have insisted that Kejriwal can visit and pray, provided no photography or videography was allowed,” Mendes said.

“On one hand Kejriwal misuses the Shrine for his publicity and on the other hand TMC (Tirnamool Congress) PR managers boast that the ‘Church in Goa is managed’,” said Wendy Dias of Colva, referring to media reports of TMC reps approaching Goan politicians to join their party.

“We request the Goa Archbishop to ban all political stunts within Churches in Goa, including photography of politicians within Church premises, as elections are at hand and such footage can incorrectly influence or bias the flock, particularly innocent Goans who are not aware of how political strategists and PR machinery works,” Dias demanded, saying we have to remind His Grace that we do not want Churches in Goa to become political launch pads and platforms for unscrupulous politicians or political careers.

Mendes further emphasized that the Goa Congress, the Goa BJP unit, Goa CM Dr Pramod Sawant and other political parties in Goa must apprise the Election Commission of India with regard to such political drama and use of religious places for campaigning.