Uday Bhembre states that he produces a series of videos, the 60th episode of which was targeted by activists from the Bajarang Dal, led by state Convenor Viraj Desai. In this particular episode, he focused on two key points from the speech given by Dr. Pramod Sawant, the Chief Minister of Goa, during the Shiv Jayanti celebration. The first point addressed in the speech was the assertion that Goa was not entirely under Portuguese rule for 450 years, a statement with which Uday fully concurs. He elaborated on how the entirety of present-day Goa came under Portuguese control over the centuries, supported by historical evidence.
The second point raised by the Chief Minister in his address indicated that the regions of Goa, extending beyond the current four talukas of Bardez, Salcéte, Mormugão, and Tiswadi, were governed by Shivaji. Historically, this assertion is inaccurate. "It is not merely one historian but a consensus among all historians that supports this view, which I also articulated, thereby contesting the second point made by the Chief Minister," Uday stated. Additionally, Uday noted that Shivaji's presence in Goa was limited to a single occasion, and his opposition was directed not at the Portuguese but rather at a Desai from Pernem.
All the information presented by Uday Bhembre can be found in the official government publication titled 'Gazetteer of Goa,' as well as in the works of Dr. Pandurang Pisurlekar. "I believe that the activists had other motivations when they arrived, chanting slogans related to Shivaji and expressing their views," Uday remarked, further indicating that they posed numerous questions while showing no willingness to consider any responses, merely asserting that he invoked Shivaji's name to criticize the Chief Minister of Goa.
The inquiry that emerges in this context is whether these activists were more invested in the Chief Minister or in Shivaji, Uday reflects. He expresses his belief that the primary objective of this reaction was to evoke communal sentiments within the Hindu community. The activists emphasized Shivaji as a representation of Hindus and Kshatriyas in the region, alongside the Chief Minister of Goa. Subsequently, they proceeded to Cuncolim, where they constructed an effigy of Uday Bhembre and set it ablaze. Uday noted that this act was accompanied by disparaging remarks. He elaborated that this situation represents a confluence of religious and state politics, which ultimately culminated in the incident.
Uday initially believed that he would not report the activists who had trespassed on private property. However, to avert similar incidents in the future, he has now resolved to file a complaint concerning the incident at the police station.