At 'Somnath Parv' event in Goa CM Sawant speaks of attacks on temples by Portuguese

Panaji, May 11 (PTI) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday accused earlier governments of failing to protect Hindu religion and culture, while asserting the country was witnessing religious activities during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing the inaugural function of 'Somnath Parv' here to mark 75 years of the reconstruction of the iconic place of worship in Gujarat, Sawant cited the innumerable attacks on it by invaders and accused Goa's erstwhile Portuguese rulers of committing similar acts.
He said his government planned to construct a temple in north Goa "symbolic of all the temples that were demolished by the Portuguese".
Referring to attacks on Somnath Temple by invaders, he said it was destroyed several times but was always rebuilt.
"Those who attacked our country tried to destroy our temples. Similar history is witnessed in Goa during Portuguese rule. Even before the religious conversions (into Christianity), the Portuguese were on a spree to attack temples in every village. They did it because they did not want people to come together, recite bhajans and follow their religion," he said.
As per historical records, Portuguese destroyed 1,000 temples in Goa, due to which people shifted their base to other states, carrying with them their deities, he said.
"Goans went and settled up to Kerala. They established temples there. Now, the state government is in the process to construct a temple symbolic of all the temples that were demolished by the Portuguese. The temple will be constructed at Diwar Island in North Goa," he said.
Hailing PM Modi for the 'Somnath Parv' being celebrated across the country, Sawant said, "Such things are possible only when you have a government which protects your culture. Why was this not possible in the last 50 years? It was not possible because those governments never protected Hindu dharma and our culture."
These activities help enhance Sanatan dharma, he said.
"The future generation will be sanatani and religious. Gen Z should also know about Sanatan dharma," the Goa CM added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)