The Cuncolim Municipal Council has resolved that its approval would have to be sought to set up a madrasa in the South Goa town. To social activists, the move is a sign of the rising “religious intolerance” that specifically targets the growing Muslim community in Goa. Such proactive actions though, also stem from increasing apprehensions in Goa against the influence of a more radicalised form of Islam being imported into this state by migrants from Bijapur, Belgaum and Hubli.
“We cannot deny anyone their right to say prayers. But the council felt any move to set up a madrasa would need to be discussed before it is given approval, since it could disturb the peace in our town,” Cuncolim Municipal Council Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes reportedly said.
Fernandes said the resolution was the outcome of recent incidents in Chinchinim and Curtorim, two other predominantly Catholic villages in South Goa, where Muslim prayer services were stopped on complaints from local bodies.