MARGAO: In a controversy that has stirred Goa’s religious and literary circles, Canacona police on Monday filed an FIR against Konkani writer and Sahitya Akademi awardee Datta Damodar Naik for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, after he referred to temple priests as “looters”.
The case was registered following a complaint by Canacona resident Satish Bhat, who objected to Naik’s remarks about temples, priests and mutts, particularly his comments about Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Mutt at Partagali – one of the major mutts of the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin community – in Canacona.
Naik, 70, who describes himself as a “staunch atheist”, stood by his remarks while acknowledging his choice of words could have been better. “I could have avoided the word ‘loot’. What I wanted to mean is ‘extract money’,” Naik, also a prominent businessman, told TOI.
In an interview to a local news channel last week, which went viral on social media platforms, Naik had said: “I don’t give a single paisa to God and religion. Temples are looting money. These priests, the Partagal mutt, these temples, would have looted me.”
Complaints were also lodged at Panaji police station on Saturday and Margao police station on Sunday by Jayesh Thali, representing Gomantak Mandir ani Dharmik Sanstha Mahasangh, who claimed Naik’s statements caused social unrest.
Canacona police registered the case under Section 299 of the BNS, which deals with deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class of citizens.
Naik questioned the utilisation of temple funds, particularly during the Covid crisis, pointing out the lack of basic facilities in villages.