Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar can hardly afford to tarnish his newly acquired halo of being a balanced administrator, taking care of the sentiments of the entire Goan society, only to be seen as the champion of extremist isolationists and self-appointed moral police men like the Sri Ram Sena. Pramod Muthalik has openly claimed that the chief minister would inaugurate Ram Sena’s office in Goa. Let it be clearly understood that the likes of Muthalik and his Sena have no place in an emerging cosmopolitan society like Goa. To permit any Ram Sena foothold in the State would be a direct affront and insult to Goan women. Our women very well know what is their role in society and are much more self-controlled than the average Indian women. Therefore, they do not need the godfathership of perverted thinkers like Muthalik. The Ram Sena presence here will only pollute our peaceful society by importing their queer brand of what is moral, what is not.
Nobody can forget the 2009 Mangalore pub show down when Muthalik’s men disrupted Valentine Day celebrations when boys and girls were assaulted, even hospitalized. Ram Sena evidently is struggling to emerge as the Indian Taliban, where it would dictate terms to women on how to be attired or how to behave in public. They have already made their intentions clear that they would oppose Valentine Day celebrations in Goa “within the framework of the law”.
Such utterances are a sham, since the clarification came only to mollify Parrikar’s stern warning . These outfits primarily seek publicity, and once they manage to get a toe-hold, eventually end up dictating terms, pointing that our own fathers have failed in raising up the daughters in “true Indian tradition.”
Though the group tries to claim the tag of nationalistic sentiments, Sri Ram Sen has nothing nationalistic, since its existence has only spelt trouble for peace-loving and democratic citizens.
The group hopes to show its desire of creating a Hindu state, by which the so-called “western outfits” and western tradition would be a taboo. One wonders where these cultural guardians were sleeping when foreign clothes from Thailand /China flooded the retail outlets throughout the country, with the traditional, graceful Indian Sari seeing a dismal decline in its popularity.
Does the Sri Ram sena want to take our women back to the days of the Manu Smriti dictum? In the name of objecting to western culture, Muthalik seeks to impose his dictat on the people. Why can’t these busybodies first reform the society of the more burning issues like burning of brides before attempting to interfere in others’ way of life? The indignities suffered by Hindu women nation-wide ought to have put his head in shame. But he has no time for them!.
The State Government allowed the national Hindu convention to be held in Ponda --- perhaps in an effort to appease the RSS and its ally organizations following the BJP victory in the State. But let it not be forgotten that the present regime in Goa represents the true spirit of communal harmony, which has existed for centuries. Sri Ram Sena and such outfits need to be told unequivocally that there is no place for them in an open society like Goa.
Apart from imposing their will through the back-door, it is set to send the wrong signals world-wide, even adversely impacting Goa’s tourism industry.
Muthalik must first reform his home state of its several social ills before setting foot in Goa on his cleansing mission! There will be far more pink under-wears waiting for him here, if he chooses to go ahead with his plan.
