Income-tax authorities asked to apologise to priest

Goa, February 10, 2012: The official also called for the identity of the informant of “non-credible information.” Election officials have asked the income-tax authorities in Goa to apologise to the Goa parish priest for conducting a raid on him on the basis of false information.

District Election Officer Sandip Jacques wrote in a letter to the tax authorities that it was “appropriate” the officials tender an apology to Fr. Roman Gonsalves, parish priest of St Francis Xavier Church at Velim for the raid on Feb 6.

The letter, following the parishioners protests, also called for the identity of the informant of “non-credible information” and appropriate action be initiated.

Meanwhile, Congress Member of Parliament Shantaram Naik has demanded the arrest of the informant to avoid communal tensions in the state during elections.

He has submitted a written complaint to federal finance minister Pranab Mukerjee.

Fr Francisco Caldeira, spokesperson of Goa archdiocese has demanded a probe into the incident.

The parishioners have also faxed a memorandum to the chief of the Election Commission of India, S Y Qureishi, following the state Election Commissioner Narayan Navti’s “irresponsible statement” that Rs 6000 was seized from the church.

– bosco de sousa eremita