Goa leader's 'LPG cylinders theory' on Congress communalism

Even as the debate between communalism and secularism gathers steam ahead of the general election, a Catholic legislator in Goa Friday showed his own way of measuring communalism - the number of cooking gas cylinders.

Caitu Silva, a legislator attached to the Goa Vikas Party (GVP), said the Congress was communal because under the party's regime, gas cylinders were supplied to churches at a commercial rate.

"The Congress is communal because churches are being given gas cylinders at a commercial rate of Rs.800 odd," he said.

"The policy on LPG cylinders is decided by the central government. How can they sell cylinders to the Church at commercial rates? That shows the Congress is ill-treating the minorities," Silva said.

Silva's party is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance in Goa.

Addressing a press conference called by the party to announce support to the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls, Silva also gave a clean chit to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying all accusations of communal violence against the organisation were unfounded.

"RSS has done no communalism. Neither has (Narendra) Modi," he said.

Silva's party attracts a big chunk of Christian votes in the Salcete sub-district, and will be crucial to the BJP.