PANJIM: A social media post promoting Aguada Jail on one of the largest online public platforms has cost the Goa Tourism Department. Reason: Wrong interpretation of Marathas as Invaders.
The post, soon withdrawn by the department from its official Twitter handle, had a following tweet apologising for the error. By this time, the department led by Minister Manohar ‘Babu’ Ajgaonkar was already caught on the wrong foot. The minister has ordered an enquiry.
Not only the ruling but United Opposition too slammed the social media team of the department for an insulting post.
BJP’s ex-Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha – South Goa) Narendra Sawaikar demanded that the tweet be immediately withdrawn. “Govt. should immediately direct #GTDC to immediately withdraw this mischievous interpretation of history by calling Marathas as invaders,” he posted and tagged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Ajgaonkar, GTDC Chairman Dayanand Sopte, BJP President Sadanand Shet Tanavade and the government’s official twitter handle for attention.
Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat pulled up the government for equating Marathas as invaders and distorting the original history. In his tweet, accompanied by images of Goa Tourism’s original and corrected tweets, questioned if the BJP government was modifying the history.
“The irresponsible @BJP4Goa Government INSULTS Maratha’s led by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by calling the Great Warriors as IINVADERS. @TourismGoa clarification makes propaganda of Salazars Portuguese Regime. Is this the MODIfied History @BJP4India now writing @goacm?” Kamat tweeted.
He was supported by Goa Forward’s Chief Vijai Sardesai, who also took to the micro blogging site calling the error a criminal move and disrespect to actual history. “The inherent disrespect and absurdity that the @DrPramodPSawant govt fosters have once again come to the fore. This is no mistake. A fort is built against invaders. The #Tourism dept and their leader @BabuAjgaonkar really meant to show #Shivaji as an invader. This is criminal,” the Fatorda legislator tweeted. He is also not convinced with the apology tweet stating that by clubbing Shivaji Maharaj with the Dutch, the tourism department has called him (Shivaji) an invader anyway.
Shiv Sena (Goa) President Jitesh Kamat went on to state that BJP has a problem with Shivaji’s popularity and asked the government to know the difference between invaders and freedom fighters. “Series of episodes proves that so-called Nationalist @BJP4Goa Govt seriously have problem with popularity of Shivaji Maharaj, who fought to free Goa from Portuguese invaders & Party with difference should know the difference between invaders and freedom fighters,” he tweeted.
