PANAJI: Stating that no law is permanent in nature and should change as per the need of the time, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday said that the government, “based on balanced views received from the public,” could consider amending Regulamento Das Mazanias, a Portuguese law dating back to 1886, which presently governs all the Hindu temples in Goa.
The Chief Minister, replying to a calling attention motion from Bicholim MLA Naresh Sawal and Cumbharjua legislator Pandurang Madkaikar as regards the tension prevailing in the temple premises of Navadurga Saunsthan, in Madkai, over replacement of the idol of the deity, said that the matter is sub-judice, and hence it would not be advisable to discuss it in the House.
Parsekar, who also holds the Home portfolio, however said that as suggested by the Cumbharjua legislator, a team of MLAs could try to mediate between the villagers and the members of the temple committee, for achieving an out-of-the-court settlement. He further observed that seeds of divisiveness should not be sown in a place where people go to offer prayers to the almighty.
The Chief Minister maintained that he has already met the villagers on two occasions and the committee members once, in an effort to create a positive dialogue between the two warring factions. “The large police force, which was recently deployed at the temple premises, was a preventive measure to stop any untoward incident, and not to exhibit support of the police to any faction,” he maintained.
Earlier, speaking on his motion, Madkaikar suggested that a committee of legislators including himself, Naresh Sawal, Digambar Kamat, Vishnu Wagh and Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar, should try to mediate in the matter. “The problem in fact, has been created due to the ego of the president of the temple committee,” he alleged, stating that the entire issue started when the temple committee decided to replace the centuries-old unique idol of the deity, Navadurga, with a new one, without taking the villagers of Madkai into confidence.
Incidentally, the temple committee has come out with the information that during the 450-year history of the Navadurga temple, three idols of the deity have been changed, and the present idol, which is in a deteriorated condition, forms the fourth in the line.
The Deputy Speaker said that the root cause of the entire problem is the law ‘Regulamento Das Mazanias’, enacted during the Portuguese regime. “This Act should be amended,” he observed.