Muthalik’s entry in Goa questioned in assembly

Porvorim: GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai on Monday criticised state govt for permitting right-wing Hindutva group Shri Ram Sene founder Pramod Muthalik to enter the state. Sardesai said that Muthalik’s return to the state could not only damage the communal harmony in the state but could also impact the tourism sector that the state depends on.
The GFP president also pointed out that even the Supreme Court had expressed concern about Muthalik’s “moral policing” when it refused to lift the ban imposed by the erstwhile Manohar Parrikar govt in Aug 2014.
“Manohar Parrikar had imposed a ban on Shri Ram Sene, why? Because their chief would make communal and inflammatory speeches. Was Parrikar mad or has Muthalik changed his ways?” said Sardesai. “On March 22, Muthalik entered the state and he spoke about love jihad. Isn’t that moral policing?”
He questioned Pramod Sawant-led govt’s intention behind Muthalik being allowed to enter Goa. “What is govt’s stand on this? Is govt trying to create a law-and-order situation and finish tourism? It is clear cut that any confusion created will have an impact on tourism," said Sardesai.
The Fatorda MLA also questioned the ruling benches for aggressively promoting Bollywood movie Chhaava, which is based on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj. “Movies are not to learn history. They are a work of fiction and for propaganda. History is to be learnt from books written by historians. Devendra Fadnavis, who was in charge of BJP for the Goa elections and who taught BJP how to win the election, said in the Maharashtra assembly, that the riots that occurred for the first time in Nagpur are because they were instigated by this movie. And you MLAs are showing this movie,” he said.
He said that the Sawant govt’s actions will “destroy brotherhood” among communities just to create a diversion from govt’s scams.