This is no
longer someone else’s problem. With Anti CAA rallies following pro CAA ones, Goa is as much a part of the
bitter divide heightened by the manner in which riots took place in Delhi.
While the jury is out as to who instigated them, perhaps a look at the who
suffered maximum losses and going through tales of horror gives a more explicit
nature of the violence and who are victims and targets are. However most
enlightened Goans feel that any attempt to communalise the issue totally will
not find favour in Goa.
While the goli maro
gang (an offshoot of the virulent remarks first made during Union Minister
Anurag Thakur’s rally before the Delhi elections attacking anti CAA agitators)
seems to be increasing with the same slogans being shouted by supporters of the
BJP at Amit Shah’s pro CAA rally, in our own Goa, the state’s crime branch
arrested activist RamkrishnaJalmi for making derogatory statements against Lord
Parshuram. He was an anti CAA activist. It had become obvious the problem was
present on both sides. Gaurang Prabhu Malkarnekar who had filed a complaint
said being against a law is absolutely fine but making those statements was not
acceptable. He said “The CAA has been passed by parliament and some people are
making statements to make themselves popular and spread communal hatred in
society. This is not done; it is just not acceptable.”
On this specific
case, Prabhakar Timble, educationist and columnist said it would be wrong to
say a communal angle was present. With regards to the statement made by
RamkrishnaJalmi he said it was important to understand that he was a member of
the tribal community who rightly or wrong believed they had been given the
wrong end of the stick by society. He did not consider the statement communal
but felt given the times one lived in it would have been better if he had not
said it.
However, many in Goa
feel that communalism has been injected into the debate and the ruling party is
accountable for this. Yet they feel that this will not find any traction in Goa
Datta Naik social
activist, author and builder was blunt when he said the ruling party wanted the
agitation to turn communal. They wanted to consolidate their hold on the Hindu
community. He said “Look they are very adamant; they are not starting a
conversation. Democracy means talking to people and having a dialogue. They
instigated everything but in Goa it is very difficult. The Muslim population is
very small in Goa. They will try everything and the economy will continue to
suffer. Coronavirus and other issues are not being tackled. They seem keen on
keeping the pot on a boil”.
Prof Sushila Mendes,
a veteran academic and historian who teaches in the Government college at
Quepem said “The thing is I am an academician who studied history and it is
deeply thought idea that keeping religion out of state politics was very
important. Several stalwarts in Goan society have articulated this position in
the past. My father was a freedom fighter and he would not like this
development”.
Joao Filipe Pereira,
lawyer and social activist was of the opinion that it was important to not get
religion in such activities. He said “We should not segregateHindus from
Muslims and vice versa. This CAA is an exercise to contain a certain religious
group and disturb communal harmony in the nation. As such the CAA should be
condemned. What I don’t understand is why are there rallies supporting it when
it is already a law. What happened was an eyeopener for everyone. It has
created unity amongst Hindus and Muslims instead of creating dissension. Hindus
are helping Muslims and vice versa. If we are a secular state why is there the
targeting of a certain community”.
However, all this was
refuted by Dattaprasad Naik of the BJP who said the entire exercise was the
handiwork of the Congress. He said “The CAA has already been announced. The
opposition has no point to attack the govt. The Congress started using the word
Muslim and religion. This communal angle was brought in by the Congress. The
riots were caused by them. All such things have to be condemned and we have to
stand behind PM Narendrabhai Modiji who has a dream for a strong India”.
Thankfully
the anti-CAA rallies at the Lohia Maidan in Margao and in Panjim had peope
cutting across religions including those who spoke. Goa has overhwelminglym
rejected the injection of communal narrative in the CAA issue and it is
ameasure of Goa’s pluralistc society that this has been achieved.
