Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Mar 25: Goa Forward Party (GFP) President Vijai Sardesai on Monday strongly criticized the BJP government for permitting Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik to enter the state, questioning whether former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s decision to ban him was wrong or if Muthalik had changed his ways.
Speaking in the Goa legislative assembly during the discussion on the Governor’s Address, Sardesai recalled that Parrikar had imposed a ban on Sri Ram Sene in 2014 due to the group’s communal and inflammatory speeches. "Was Parrikar mad, or has Muthalik changed his ways? He entered Goa and spoke about ‘love jihad’," Sardesai said.
Muthalik’s entry was restricted based on police reports warning that his presence could disrupt peace and communal harmony. For over a decade, the ban was periodically renewed, but it lapsed recently, allowing Muthalik to enter Goa and meet former RSS leader-turned-rebel Subhash Velingkar in Panaji.
Sardesai also reminded the House that the Supreme Court had refused to lift the ban on Muthalik, citing his involvement in moral policing. He accused the BJP government of allowing divisive elements into the state, warning that such actions could harm Goa’s tourism industry. "Any confusion created will impact tourism. Goans have always rejected communal tensions, but the government seems determined to destroy this brotherhood. Is this an attempt to divert attention from scams?" Sardesai questioned.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira highlighted rising incidents of communal violence in Goa, alleging that such acts had the tacit support of the government. He cited an incident in Mapusa, where a group claiming to be Bajrang Dal members allegedly stormed a Muslim family’s house, accusing them of storing beef. The police, he claimed, trespassed without a warrant, searched the house, and arrested family members. Later, a Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) report confirmed there was no beef in the house.
Ferreira condemned such actions, stating, "I have the right to eat what I want and keep what I want in my house as long as it is legal. The police must remain neutral." He also criticized the trend of filing FIRs over statements people disliked, linking it to a larger pattern of communal provocation.
Raising concerns over growing tensions around the annual feast of Saint Joseph Vaz, Ferreira warned that such incidents could tarnish Goa’s reputation internationally and deter tourists. "Many of these troublemakers are not even from Goa. If this continues, it will affect our state’s image and tourism industry," he cautioned.
The opposition leaders strongly urged the government to take action to maintain communal harmony and uphold the secular fabric of the state.