Panaji, May 4 (IANS): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Goa on Thursday slammed ruling political parties for criticizing the influential Roman Catholic Church over "land irregularities".

The Goa Forward, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and an anonymous social media campaign have targeted the religious body for trying to convert land donated to the institution into settlement zones.

AAP state convener Elvis Gomes told the media here that political parties condemning the Church in Goa without evidence was condemnable.

"Political parties are trying to defame the Church. Ruling parties are trying to deflect attention," Gomes said.

The AAP has already filed a complaint, claiming that anonymous videos circulated on social media accusing the Church of being party to land scams, were aimed at inciting communal trouble.

BJP spokesperson Sharmad Pai Raiturkar has on the contrary accused the Church of proposing to convert nearly 5 lakh sq meters of land.