The recent visit of BJP's delegation, accompanied by their parliamentary candidate Pallavi Dempo, to St. Cruz Church at Cavelossim has stirred controversy within the Christian community.
At the center of this uproar are Cavelossim sarpanch Dixon Vaz and parish priest Fr. Ubaldo Fernandes, criticized for permitting photography and videography inside the church, especially in front of the sacred Altar. This issue has sparked debates and raised numerous questions on social media platforms.
Feeling the pressure, Dixon attempted to address the situation through a press conference but inadvertently aggravated it. His eagerness to contest the Assembly elections seems to have clouded his judgment, failing to discern the BJP delegation's strategic manoeuvres and his unwitting role as a political pawn.
Dixon asserts that the saffron party had planned for their parliamentary candidate Pallavi Dempo to engage with various community segments along the Salcete coastal belt. He claims to have met the delegation, discussing the village's needs and showcasing his accomplishments during his tenure. However, the absence of any visual documentation of this interaction in the panchayat office suggests that Pallavi may have met Dixon informally, possibly by the roadside, making his presence at the church unnecessary.
It appears that Dixon sought to curry favour with the communal party members, perhaps eyeing a slot for himself in the Assembly elections, considering Congress's potential reluctance to field a candidate in exchange for AAP's concession of the south Goa parliamentary seat. In his zeal to impress BJP's leadership, Dixon fell into their trap, unwittingly becoming a pawn in their political game.
The circumstances surrounding BJP's south Goa parliamentary candidate Pallavi Dempo also raise questions. Despite her status as a businesswoman, socialite, and philanthropist where she does not meet any person without an appointment, her failure to extend the same courtesy appointment to Fr. Ubaldo hints at the BJP's firm control over her actions. If elected, her role might be reduced to a mere “ungli ka chaap” (rubber stamp) for the party's decisions.
Fr. Ubaldo, while claiming prior knowledge of the visit, was caught off-guard during the delegation's actual arrival, being occupied with overseeing church renovations. However, his decision to turn the church into a photo-op studio is also questionable; he could have conducted discussions with the BJP delegation in his office instead.
Dixon's assertion of a large gathering during the visit raises suspicions. Were these supporters mobilized to impress the BJP delegation with his popularity, in hopes of securing their support in the next election? Whether knowingly or unwittingly, Dixon Vaz has become entangled in BJP's political machinations, scoring a self-inflicted blow or rather a self goal and allowing himself to be utilized as a mere pawn in their political game of chess.
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