Case filed for comment on Shivaji, Pastor appeals for peace and harmony
Panaji (IANS). A Catholic priest in Goa has expressed regret and appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony after he was booked by the police over a comment on Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
A video of Father Bolamax Pereira, attached to a church in Chicalim near Vasco town, recently went viral, in which he said that talks should be held with Hindus to “regard Chhatrapati Shivaji as God (whether Chhatrapati Shivaji is the God of Hindus)”. Needed.’
Later apologizing over the incident, Father Nebolmax Pereira said that he did not intend to hurt the sentiments of any community.
He said, “I am an ardent follower and admirer of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The world praises him because he united everyone. The only thing I wanted to say to my people is that some sections consider him as God. He is our national hero, he is a warrior and the important thing is that he united us (Hindu-Christians). I talked to my community, someone made a video of it and made it viral. I don’t know who did this,” he said, adding that he was not against Shivaji Maharaj.
He said, “We have been living together for the last several years. Many of my friends are from Hindu religion. We should not be divided on that statement but should protect peace and harmony. ,
According to him, Shivaji Maharaj was mentioned in his sermon on some issues. He said, “I was only telling my community that we should hold talks with our Hindu friends and nothing else.”
After the video went viral, a group praising ‘Shivaji Maharaj’ staged a protest outside the Vasco police station on Friday night, demanding the immediate arrest of Father Bolmax Pereira.
According to a Catholic leader who helped police ease tensions near the church where supporters of the priest had gathered, Father Bolmax had no intention of hurting anyone.
A Catholic leader said on condition of anonymity, “What he wanted to convey was that associating Shivaji Maharaj with only one religion would diminish his greatness among people of other religions.”
Meanwhile, Father Bolmax Pereira has applied for anticipatory bail.
