PANJIM: The opposition Congress on Tuesday demanded ban on the entry of Hindutva activist Sambhaji Bhide into the State, fearing religious tension may erupt due to his provocative speeches.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) general secretary Vijay Bhike said that in the BJP’s rule peace and social harmony is disturbed. “Now a days anti-social element are trying to disturb our peace. We should not fall prey to them. Government has no control over it. Presently democracy is under attack. People of Manipur are suffering. But the government has done nothing to control it,” he said.
Bhike said that there are many cases filed against Bhide for his provocative speeches at many places. “There is ban on Pramod Muthalik, then why not ban on Sambhaji Bhide, against whom many cases are lodged. Even Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, has lodged a complaint against Bhide for his derogatory remarks,” he added.
Bhike has written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Chief Secretary PK Goel requesting them to ban Bhide from visiting the State. Bhide is scheduled to visit the Goa on Thursday, August 24, to address a gathering at Davorlim in Margao, on the topic, ‘Contribution of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in the protection of Hindu religion, its mutts and temples and restoration of temples destroyed during the Portuguese regime’.
“Allowing a person like Sambhaji Bhide to address a gathering would only lead to more communal tension and disturb the communal peace in the state. There is also a high possibility of eruption of communal riots which may lead to communal tension and will result in irreparable and irreversible loss,” Bhike said.
