Deplorable attack
The attack on Vishnu Wagh on Thursday night by BJP supporters smacks of a well-planned conspiracy to intimidate and cow down the affable St Andre MLA. Wagh was returning from a cultural programme held at Nadora temple in Tivim when his car was stopped and badly damaged by a mob wielding sticks. They also assaulted the MLA inside the car. Visibly shaken by the attack, Wagh ended up at the Goa Medical College for treatment on Friday. But he remained adamant and firm that the assault had been planned by members of his own party, some of whom he was able to identify as supporters of the Tivim MLA Kiran Kandolkar. Vishnu Wagh’s wife Aruna also told the media the assault on her husband could have not taken place without the knowledge of the BJP’s strongman, Satish Dhond who is deeply rooted in the RSS.
It is no secret that Dhond, like several other BJP pointsmen steeped in RSS ideology form the core group of advisors around Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Senior BJP leaders who are put off by their strong saffron ideology talk of the “inner circle” that is in effect second only to the CM in running the government and even sending out orders to the police.
Vishnu Wagh who was once a journalist and a former editor of a Marathi daily and is still a playwright, despite his obvious passion for politics and power play, has been used to an atmosphere of free expression, free thinking and a respect for the arts and culture. His political ambitions took him first to the MGP and next the Congress. He joined the BJP only last year after it became apparent he wasn’t going to get a Congress ticket to contest last year’s assembly election given the fact the national party already had a sitting MLA in St Andre.
Whatever complaints one might have against Wagh, one cannot accuse him of being easily intimidated. Characteristically outspoken, the MLA made no secret of the fact that he’s been unhappy in the BJP. Though some believe a large part of this disenchantment has much to do with him being left out of the Cabinet, there is also the factor of the upper-caste-inner-circle politics played by the likes of Dhond that has alienated members like Wagh.
Within the Congress in Goa, factionalism and dissent have become a way of life. In the Goa BJP, it finds little tolerance, specially from those who strategise the violence lurking in the shadows of the sidelines. Vishnu Wagh has been upfront about his desire to leave the BJP if he manages to get the North Goa ticket either from the NCP or Congress for next year’s Lok Sabha election. He embarrassed the chief minister last month by not turning up for the opening of the film festival because he has felt slighted in being cold-shouldered by Parrikar. There are many ways in a democratic organisation to resolve political and personal differences. An open discussion and an airing of views are the most acceptable in modern and civilised societies. To attack the MLA in reprisal for attending a harmless kirtan mahotasava organised by NCP Goa president Nilkant Halarnkar is not only cowardly, but smacks of a fascist mindset at play. What the chief minister needs to do is ensure that all those involved are immediately arrested, even if they are men from his own party.
