Church condemns clash of IFFI date with St Francis Xavier feast

Goa Church on Thursday condemned clash of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) dates with the feast of St Francis Xavier, after Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Ambika Soni took a U-turn on her earlier statement that she will consider the request of locals over the clash of dates.

Save Old Goa Action Committee members have camped themselves near the IFFI venue since November 23 demanding to hold the film festival either before November 23 or December 3 as it affects the arrangements of the Novenas and the Feast.
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Ambika Soni however said that she cannot take any decision without holding discussions with the International Film Festival Committee.

Terming it as unfortunate as delegates attend the film fest, she said "I came across a lot of people on the road on the inaugural function. It is not a one man decision over the festival dates as the matter has to be discussed with the film festival committee."

She was speaking on the sidelines of Film Bazaar organised by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

Her statement comes a day after she assured before thousands of people on the IFFI inaugural day that she will look into the matter.

The Church representatives on Wednesday submitted her memorandum to hold IFFI either before November 23 or after December 3, on Thursday warned the Government against repeating it next year.

The Church officials are unhappy that Old Goa Church, which is a World Heritage Monument' and gets lakhs of devotees on the Feast day are not provided enough security cover, for, the attention is given to IFFI. Nine-day Novena prayers have begun from today.

(Reporting by John Edwards)