Panaji, Oct 22 (IANS) Amidst increasing criticism of state transport minister's Ramkrishna alias Sudin Dhavalikar's links with the Sanatan Sanstha (SS), whose members are being probed for a blast in Goa last week, a Diwali greeting card sent by the minister has now created a storm.
The Diwali greeting card's opening page contains an image of Lord Krishna with a Sudarshan Chakra in his right hand. Around him is a sketched scene of mayhem, showing two persons being hacked to death, lying in a pool of blood, while others including a politician-like khadi-clad individual are shown scampering from the scene. There are three individuals shown praying to Lord Krishna.
On one of its inner pages are the contact details of the SS and other promotional matter relating to the organisation, while the other page contains the names and signatures of Sudin and his wife Jyoti Dhavalikar wishing the recipient a Happy Diwali.
Dhavalikar's links with the SS has been a subject of much debate in Goa, with home minister Ravi Naik saying on record that the minister's wife's role in the organisation will be probed.
"We know she (Jyoti Dhavalikar) is a part of the SS. We do not know what exactly she does there. Everyone associated with the organisation will be probed. We will tolerate no political interference in the blast investigations," Naik said.
Dhavalikar, who has been criticised by Naik and another cabinet colleague public works department Churchill Alemao, skipped the cabinet meeting Wednesday.
Dhavalikar, when questioned about the greeting card, said that his family has been associated with several religious institutions. "We are associated with them (SS) for the good work they do. Not for things like this. I am associated with lots of temples in Goa," the transport minister said.
Malgonda Patil and Yogesh Naik, both SS members, were ferrying an IED on a two wheeler Friday evening when the explosion took place in Margao, 35 km from here. Both were killed.
Three other IEDs, two of which were found near the blast site and the other about 30 km away near Vasco, did not go off.