PONDA: Some miscreants damaged the car of renowned dramatist Rajdeep Naik on the intervening Saturday-Sunday night at Savoi Verem.
Speaking to Herald, Naik said that he suspected the mischief makers to be belonging to those opposing the video he had uploaded seeking an increase in the meagre help offered by government to the artists. The video highlighted the plight of the Ganesh idol makers seeking an increase in the subsidy allotted to them during the Chaturthi Festival.
“I suspect the miscreants to be politically connected as this video could have possibly hurt some supporters defending the meagre subsidy. I cannot understand the move to destroy my car except the video,” said Naik, adding such an incident never happened in his life. Naik owns vehicles for the past twenty years.
He filed a complaint at the Ponda Police station. The rear mirrors of his car parked at the roadside near his house was damaged. He had kept some food grains for distribution to needy artists, Naik said.
Naik had uploaded his video on the social media on night criticising the government for meagre one time settlement scheme(OTS) with Rs 10,000 financial relief for artists in Goa. He had said that government is making mockery of artists by declaring OTS as if it is big amount of final settlement for artists.
In video posted on social media he had highlighted plight of artist who were suffering due to pandemic and since last year were demanding relief from government. He said that even a government at the lowest level receives salary of Rs 20,000 per month and still struggles to meet monthly expenses. How will the artist survive with Rs 10,000,” he said. He also refused to accept that help.
He had said that many artists are totally dependent on their art and drama for livelihood and since last one year of pandemic left with no stage shows and without any income were struggling to feed families.
“With great hope we the artists and people had elected this government by defeating Congress government. All artisans, bhajan and folk artists were in the forefront at the agitation launched on medium of instruction at Panjim in 2012,” he added.
He said if artist and former late MLA Vishnu Wagh had been alive then definitely he would be vocal for artists today. But since no body is doing this he had put video on their issues.
