To:

Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa,

Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India (PMO)
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Tourism, Government of India
Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (State of Residence of the Accused)

Shri Periasamy Kumaran, High Commissioner of India to the UK (London)

Shri Alok Kumar, Director General of Police (DGP), Goa

CC: 

The Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa (For awareness)
 

The Statement of Purpose: 

We, the residents of Goa and the global Goan diaspora, express our collective outrage and condemnation regarding the repeat incident of hate speech targeting St. Francis Xavier (Goencho Saib), the patron saint and symbol of Goa’s communal harmony.

On April 18, 2026, during a Bhagwan Parshuram Janmotsav event in Vasco, Gautam Khattar delivered a venomous speech that insulted the revered relics at the Basilica of Bom Jesus and labeled the saint a "terrorist." This follows a pattern of provocative rhetoric, including the 2024 Subhash Velingkar controversy, which has gone largely unpunished.

Key Facts for Government Attention:

Failure of Leadership: The speech occurred in the presence of State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and other BJP MLAs. Their presence on the dais provided a silent endorsement. Failure to intervene as the words were spoken is a betrayal of the Goan people.
The UK Diaspora's Stand: Goans in the UK are currently writing to the High Commissioner in London. It is hypocritical for Goa’s Ministers to visit the UK to promote tourism while failing to protect the religious identity that makes Goa a global destination.
A Call for Justice: While we acknowledge the arrest of accomplice Madhav Khattar, the main perpetrator, Gautam Khattar, remains absconding.
 

The "Double Standard" of Justice:

We contrast the state’s current "helplessness" with its past efficiency:

The Precedent of Fr. Bolmax (2023): When Fr. Bolmax Pereira made a nuanced statement regarding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a "national hero," the state moved with lightning speed despite his immediate apology.
The Current Incident (2026): In stark contrast, Gautam Khattar used the label "terrorist" to incite disharmony. The government’s efficiency seems to vanish when the targets are our own minority clergy and cultural symbols.
Message to Tourism: As Ministers visit the UK to invite tourists back, they must answer: How can Goa be a safe, welcoming "Golden Goa" when hate speech is tolerated on government stages?
 

Our Demands:

1. Immediate Arrest: Use all resources to apprehend Gautam Khattar immediately.
2. Ministerial Accountability: The resignation or sacking of Minister Mauvin Godinho for failing to uphold his constitutional oath.
3. Strict Legal Precedent: Ensure a fast-tracked trial under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
4. Protection of Heritage: A formal government guarantee to protect the dignity of the Basilica of Bom Jesus and the relics of St. Francis Xavier.
    

Ultimatum to the Chief Minister:

As the Chief Minister of Goa, it is your constitutional responsibility to uphold the dignity of all communities and ensure communal harmony. The ongoing unrest following the derogatory remarks by Gautam Khattar, delivered on a stage shared by your own Ministers – is a direct consequence of a culture of impunity.

1. The Externment Demand: We respectfully request that you take immediate steps to extern Gautam Khattar from the state of Goa (following his arrest) and ensure he is banned from entry. This will serve as a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated.
2. The Demand for Resignation: If no prompt and exemplary action is taken, it will be perceived as a deliberate failure on your part to protect the sentiments of the people. In such a scenario, we, the undersigned, will have no choice but to call for your immediate resignation. A leader who cannot ensure the security and dignity of his people is unfit to hold the highest office in the state.

Goa is a land of "Amchem Goem, Sobit Goem."

We will not allow imported ideologies to destroy our centuries-old unity.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours sincerely,

The Goans in the UK 

(and all Goans across the Globe)