Aldona MLA, social activist file police complaint against Khattar.

Panaji: Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira and social activist Roshan Mathias on Monday filed a complaint at Vasco police station against Gautam Khattar, founder of Sanathan Mahasangh, for his derogatory statements against St Francis Xavier made on April 18 at a public function held at Tilak Maidan, Vasco.Those present at the function were Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho, MLAs Krishna (Daji) Salkar and Sankalp Amonkar, states the complaint.The complainants have stated that the words were deliberately uttered by Khattar and with malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of Catholics and Goans, as well as citizens of India, thereby insulting the Catholic religion and the religious beliefs of Catholics in particular and of Goans, who revere St Francis Xavier as a Saint, who is venerated in Goa, India, outside Goa (within India) and even abroad.Ferreira and Mathias also stated in the complaint that Khattar’s statements promotes or attempts to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity hatred or ill-will between different religious, groups or castes or communities, for which offence needs to be registered under Section 299 BNS Act“By these words, any done act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious and communities, and which disturbs or is likely to disturb the public tranquillity, is punishable under Section 196 BNS Act and also under Section 302 BNS Act,” they stated.The complainants also stated that it is evident that even without a complaint, the FIR ought to have been registered suo motu.“The complainants along with a large number of Catholics as well as non-Catholics who live in Goa have been offended and hurt and felt insulted with the words of Khattar,” states the complaint.