Team Herald

PONDA: A protest rally at Ponda condemned those demanding a ban on Santhan Sanstha, on Sunday.

Commencing from Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, Betoda, the rally marched to Aguiar Ground via Upper Bazaar and Dada Vaidya Chowk, where it culminated in a public meeting addressed by a number of Santhan supporters. 

Addressing the rally, Santhan supporter Ramesh Naik strongly opposed demand of progressive activists that the Sanstha be banned.

“It is not an easy thing (to ban the Sanstha); but if government makes any effort to ban, then, there would be serious consequences which the government will have to face,” he warned.

Asserting that Sanatan Sadhaks were not involved in any criminal activities, he said that the Sadhaks accused of 2009 Margao bomb blast, were acquitted by the court.

He claimed that police have falsely implicated Sadaks in the murders of rationalists Narendra Dabolkar, M M Kulburgi, Govind Pansare and Gauri Lankesh. 

He said that Sanatan was working for protection of Hindu Dharma and government should not interfere with its work. “Hindus would unite and teach a lesson for any ban on Sanatan,” he threatened.

Writer Mahesh Parkar condemned the people who are demanding ban on Sanathan. “Politicians only want votes of Hindus but do not solve their problems,” he said. Manoj Solanki of Hindu Janjagruti Samiti also spoke on the occasion

A large police force accompanied the protest rally to maintain law and order. Ponda PI Harish Marcaikar and Ponda Mamlatdar were present to monitor public meeting.