Ex-RSS Goa chief sparks controversy over call for DNA test of Saint Francis Xavier

Former RSS Goa unit chief Subhash Velingkar’s comments on Saint Francis Xavier, regarded as the patron saint of Goa, have ignited a significant uproar in the coastal state. The controversy centres around Velingkar’s suggestion that a DNA test should be conducted on the relics of the saint to ascertain their authenticity, a statement that has been widely condemned by political figures and religious communities.

Velingkar’s remarks, made earlier this week, challenge the saint's long-standing title of “Goencho Saib” (Protector of Goa), which is deeply revered among Goans across various religious communities. These statements have drawn sharp criticism, with opposition parties accusing him of attempting to disrupt the state’s communal harmony, The Indian Express reported.

Prominent political leaders have voiced concerns about the impact of his comments on the peaceful coexistence of different faiths in Goa. The situation escalated further when former Goa Chief Minister Churchill Alemao lodged a formal police complaint against Velingkar, accusing him of hurting religious sentiments and trying to stir communal discord. Despite this, the police have not yet registered an FIR.

Velingkar, who was expelled from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 2016 following a rebellion and policy disagreements with the BJP-led state government over the medium of instruction in schools, has made similar remarks in the past.

In 2022, he launched a campaign named ‘The Goa Files,’ which aimed to elevate the Hindu Deity Lord Parshuram as the true ‘Goencho Saib,’ instead of St Francis Xavier. This has reignited debates surrounding religious identities and historical narratives in the state.

In addition to Alemao’s complaint, various opposition leaders and parties have condemned Velingkar's remarks, expressing concerns over the potential harm to communal amity in Goa. Some have urged the government to take action to prevent any further deterioration of the state's harmonious relations. Others have suggested that Velingkar’s comments are a deliberate attempt to divert attention from pressing local issues, such as land conversion, which has been a contentious topic in Goa’s political landscape.

In response to the mounting backlash, Velingkar filed his own police complaint, claiming that certain activist groups were spreading misinformation and attempting to disrupt peace. He referenced the Goa Inquisition, a dark chapter in the state’s colonial past, to frame his remarks within a broader historical context.

Velingkar argued that his comments were intended to encourage reflection on the historical implications of the Inquisition and to question the true nature of sainthood, rather than to malign any religious figure or community.

The controversy comes just weeks before the decennial exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier, scheduled for late November 2024, an event that attracts thousands of devotees.