Says Dr Dabholkar’s murder will not kill his ideas
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The murder of Dr Narendra Dabholkar will not kill his ideas or teachings, rather only strengthen the movement towards scientific temper and rational thinking even as voices rent the air calling for a ban on fascist organizations like the Sanatan Sanstha and the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti.
The meeting held in Panjim Wednesday to condole the death of prominent anti-superstition activist, who was shot dead in Pune on Tuesday saw prominent citizens extolling the life and values that Dabholkar stood for.
Dattaprasad Dabholkar, the brother of the slain activist who was in the city, called on the people gathered not to allow the death of Narendra Dabholkar go in vain.
“That there are meetings like this is testament to the fact that he has not died in vain. He had been regularly receiving death threats and yet had refused security,” Dattaprasad said.
MLA Vishnu Wagh who was also present for the meeting said that his death should not deter us from taking forward his mission.
Dr Mukund Naik, a prominent psychiatrist termed the mind control techniques being used by the Sanatan Sanstha as brainwashing, which, he said has a neurochemical basis and in medical terminology is called ‘cult indoctrination syndrome’, he said, adding that such a cult is banned in Serbia.
“Let us demand hat here too there should be a ban on such organisations,” Dr Naik said, stressing that both the HJS and the Sanatan Sanstha are headquartered in Goa, which was a matter of concern.
Prominent speakers including Sonu Rao chided the audience for coming together only when the death of a person occurs. “It is a tragedy that someone has had to die for all of us to come together. Many activists have died including RTI activists and environmental activists but they have not spurred us into action. Let this not be the case. Let this not remain a ritual. I hope something comes out of this,” Rao said.
Others who spoke included writers, historians, journalists, activists and other prominent citizens who called for action as well as for a ban on the organizations.
Meanwhile, the Sanatan Sanstha, which is at the centre of controversy, has denied any role in the killing of Dabholkar in Pune.
“The murder of Dr Dabholkar is as shocking as the accusations of certain gentlemen in the media and progressive movements to hold Sanatan Sanstha responsible for this incident. Indiscriminate accusations hurled at Sanatan Sanstha before any investigation takes place in the incident or without the existence of any proof is a defamation of Sanatan Sanstha,” Abhay Vartak of the Sanatan Sanstha said in a statement in Pune.
