Verghese V Joseph –
Panjim: In a significant development, the High Court of Bombay at Goa, on Friday, has quashed the First Information Report (FIR) filed against Fr Bolmax Pereira, a Catholic priest from Chicalim, Goa.
The FIR was filed against Fr Pereira after he allegedly made outrageous comments about Shivaji, the Maratha King, during a sermon, which sparked controversy and led to a complaint being filed against him.
The High Court’s decision to quash the FIR has been welcomed by Fr Pereira and his supporters, who have been campaigning for his exoneration. The FIR was filed against Fr Pereira under sections 153A and 295A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deal with promoting enmity between different groups and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings, respectively.
However, the High Court found that the FIR was baseless and that there was no evidence to support the allegations made against Fr Pereira. The court observed that the FIR was a result of political opportunism, and that Fr Pereira was a victim of the same.
The controversy surrounding Fr Pereira began on August 4, last year, when he made comments about Shivaji during a sermon. The comments were perceived as derogatory by some individuals, who filed a complaint against Fr Pereira. The complaint led to the filing of the FIR, which sparked widespread protests and calls for Fr Pereira’s arrest.
However, Fr Pereira’s supporters maintained that he was innocent and that the FIR was a result of political vendetta. They argued that Fr Pereira’s comments were taken out of context and that he did not intend to hurt anyone’s religious feelings.
The High Court’s decision to quash the FIR has been hailed as a victory for free speech and religious freedom. It has also been seen as a reaffirmation of the principles of justice and fairness.
Fr Pereira’s supporters have expressed their relief and gratitude over the High Court’s decision. They have called for an end to political opportunism and for the protection of the rights of individuals to express their views without fear of persecution.
The quashing of the FIR against Fr Pereira is a significant development in the ongoing debate over free speech and religious freedom in India. It highlights the need for a fair and impartial investigation of complaints and the protection of the rights of individuals to express their views without fear of persecution.
The High Court’s decision to quash the FIR against Fr Bolmax Pereira is a welcome development. It is a victory for free speech and religious freedom and a reaffirmation of the principles of justice and fairness. It is also a reminder of the need for a fair and impartial investigation of complaints and the protection of the rights of individuals to express their views without fear of persecution.
On August 22 last year, around 150-200 Shiv premis gathered outside the police station in the port town of Vasco demanding the arrest of Catholic priest and social campaigner Bolmax Pereira over comments he made during a religious celebration concerning Shivaji.
In a video that circulated on social media, Fr Pereira had said that while the Maratha warrior king was a ‘national hero’, “some people had made him into a god.”
“There are a few people for whom Shivaji has become a god. Shivaji is not a god. Yes, he’s a national hero. We have to honour and respect him. What he has done, the battles he has fought to protect his people, for all that he deserves respect. He is a hero, but not a god. But today the Hindutva-vadis have come forward and have made him a god. We have to dialogue with our Hindu brethren and ask them: Is Shivaji your god? or a national hero. If he is a national hero, let it be at that. Don’t make him a god. We need to understand their perspective. If we live in fear, we will not be able to rise again,” the priest was heard saying in a sermon that was delivered in the context of attacks on Christians.
The priest later apologised if he had hurt sentiments and said that his comments were taken out of context.
What Father Pereira said is certainly correct.A man is equated to god.But isn’t this a fact that in the catholic church, the voice of the Superior in the religious order or a diocese is considered to be the voice of God? Any candidate expressing views contrary to the Superior is either dismissed or punished in various ways.To maintain discipline , obedience is required.However, many Superiors forward their own agenda.Some years back I found there was not a single north Indian candidate in the diocese of Gorakhpur except Malayalis alone.You cannot find any north Indian priest heading any institution or diocese in South India.I am not against South or North.I just want to say how few people claim to be hearing God’s voice and compell others to obey in the church because they are in the position of authority. We need , rather, to have a dialogue and open heart to listen to other views as well.