Staff Reporter
Margao
The state government on Sunday came in for sharp criticism for its failure to book Bajrang Dal activists for the intimidating and provocative speeches in Cuncolim and holding a protest against Konkani stalwart and Opinion Poll hero Uday Bhembre at his residence in Margao late Friday evening.
A large number of people from all walks of life, including politicians, former bureaucrats and social activists, gathered at St Sebastian Square near Chowgule college, Gogol, on Sunday evening to extend their support to Bhembre.
They condemned the intimidation and verbal abuse of 86-year-old Bhembre by Bajrang
Dal activists.
The public meeting also passed a resolution condemning the trespass and verbal abuse of Bhembre by the activists and demanded immediate police action in the matter.
The Bajrang Dal is out to terrorise the people opposed to its viewpoint, the resolution said, adding that the activists will destroy the tolerant and secular culture of Goa, if they are not checked in time.
The resolution further read that the police have done little for the past two days, which has emboldened the activists, adding that the government’s silence in the past incidents has brought the situation to this sorry state, that the activists had the gumption to intimidate and abuse a senior citizen at night.
The gathering demanded immediate police protection to Bhembre.
Veteran Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo, Fr Mousinho de Ataide, Konkani Bhasha Mandal president Ratnamala Divkar, Prashant Naik, Vikas Bhagat and others spoke at the meeting.
Addressing the people, Mauzo said, “This is not the Goa we have known; no Niz Goenkar would have behaved the way they behaved with Uday Bhembre. I feel sorry for them. Why are those responsible to maintain law and order quiet?”
He said the Indian Constitution gives us fundamental rights of justice, liberty and equality, adding that it is the responsibility of the government to maintain law and order.
Mauzo asked whether the law and order machinery is functioning in Goa, adding that public pressure is important to protect democracy and force the government to listen to its people.
Prashant Naik lashed out at the government and said there has been an increase in such incidents in the last two years, alleging that such incidents cannot take place without government’s support.
He warned that if no action is taken against the Bajrang Dal activists, then a morcha would be taken to the Cuncolim police station and the office of South Goa superintendent of police.
Fr Ataide said religions do not matter as we are all Indians, and that India is a democracy and every citizen is given the right to freedom of speech.
If you do not agree with the statements of Bhembre then you can have fruitful discussion, he said, condemning the manner in which the Bajrang Dal activists confronted the Opinion Poll hero.
“Democracy should not be suppressed, and we will not allow democracy to be suppressed by a few elements,” Fr Ataide said.
South Goa Lok Sabha MP Captain Viriato Fernandes, Aldona legislator Carlos Alvares Ferreira, Velim MLA Cruz Silva and others were also present for the solidarity meeting.
