On ‘National Unity Day’, meeting convened to unite the country against ‘divisive forces’

MARGAO: As communal disharmony is increasing with every passing day in the country given the fact that communal incidents have become an order of the day, a mammoth meeting is planned on Lohia Maidan, Margao, on Tuesday, October 31, which is observed as Ekta Dis or National Unity Day.

This programme was launched on October 2 which is observed as Gandhi Jayanti under the tagline “Gandhi se Vallabhai, Xanti se Ekta” to culminate on October 31 which is Sardar Vallabhbhai Jayanti day, said Anant Agni, the convener of the programme.

“Mahatma Gandhi is known as the apostle of peace whose mission of peace has become world famous while Sardar Patel played a key role in uniting all the princely States 

with the Union of India after our independence,” said Agni.

However, he agonised  that in present times this peace and unity is under tremendous threat as communal incidents have been erupting all over the country under the present dispensation with Manipur becoming a national disgrace for Indians all over the world.

“There is no doubt that incidents are deliberately orchestrated to disturb the peace that Goa has been famous for, where even after Ayodhya incident, Goa remained calm while the rest of the country burnt,” he said.

He said, it is time the public rise up in one voice and express their rejection of these communal forces and their machinations and hence said a large turnout at Lohia Maidan would be the right way to give this message to the divisive forces.

A plethora of speakers are slated to address the gathering which will start at 4 pm and which is actively supported by various social activists from all over the State who have been appealing to people to attend it through social media.

Uday Bhembre who strived for keeping Goa as an independent State during the Opinion Poll and the only MLA to have resigned from the Assembly before joining any political party, will lead the luminaries scheduled to speak.

 “On 18th June 1946 Ram Manohar Lohia launched the battle against the fascist Portuguese regime in Goa from this historic place and that is why we are having our programme here to launch the movement against the present day divisive forces,” said Agni.

The programme is organised by Goenkar – Ek pavll ekcharachem to send a message of unity to the people with an appeal to fight against attempts to disturb the communal harmony of Goa said anti coal activist Xencor Polji/

Political activist Rama Kanoknonkar said it is of paramount importance that Goa’s communal harmony should not be disturbed for political purpose as it happening at the moment.

Environmentalist Mariano Serrao said this effort by social society was laudable and added that politicians should be given a clear message not to mix religion with politics.