Panaji: A Goa legislator wants bureaucrats in the western Indian state to refrain from picking on people’s dietary habits.
Some bureaucrats in Goa refer to Christians as “pig eaters” and treat them in despicable manner, Caitu Silva alleged in the state legislative assembly on Wednesday.
“I feel ashamed to say that some officers have said that a hospital in South (South Goa district) is to only save pig-eaters,” Silva, a Catholic, reportedly said in the house while criticizing the functioning of the health ministry.
Silva, a member of the Goa Vikas (development) Party, was speaking during the motion of thanks to the governor’s address at the budget session, reports India Today website.
Silva’s party is a partner in the state’s coalition government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian people’s party).
Christians, majority of them Catholic, form 26 percent of the state’s 1.8 million people and pork is a major item in their diet.
Silva represents Benaulim constituency in the Salcete sub-district in South Goa, where most Catholics in the state are concentrated.
He also told the assembly that he could identify one such officer. However, he did not mention any name.
“These are the words used by a government officer. These words have been used because Christians eat pork. Officers should not do this. I know who the officer is,” Silva said, adding that Goa’s Christians “are not in anyone’s debt” to be called “pig-eaters.”
Earlier, Christians in Goa had demanded sufficient supply of beef for Easter that falls on April 5 this year. Goa has been experiencing beef shortage after neighboring state of Maharashtra passed a law to make possessing or eating beef as a punishable offense.