PANJIM/ MARGAO: The Manohar Parrikar government finally added bite to its bark on the Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik. The district collectors of North and South Goa, in identical orders, based on almost identical reports of the two police Superintendants, Priyanka Kashyap and Shekhar Prabhudesai, to ban the virulent Ram Sene chief and his associates under section 144. The decision was taken barely a fortnight before the Sri Ram Sene was planning to hold its executive meeting in Goa and announce the setting up of its organisation here.
Both the police reports and the identical action taken by the two district magistrates is clear that the decision was taken directly by the Chief Minister, before the close of the monsoon session of the assembly.
As opposed to the specific order which has banned individuals, the Chief Minister in the assembly, on Wednesday said, “We have banned Sri Ram Sene into Goa,” Parrikar told State Legislative Assembly Wednesday evening. “I had asked police to prepare a detailed report based on Sene announcement to start its base in September. The report was submitted to Collector. We have banned Sri Ram Sene now,” he added. Speaking to Herald later, the Chief Minister said “It is not within my powers to ban the organization, but based on police reports that peace would be vitiated with Muthalik’s entry, we have banned him and his associates from entering Goa.
Our Margao bureau reports that the order issued under section 144 of the Cr P C was issued by the South Goa collector apprehending that Muthalik’s acts will be prejudicial to peace and harmony in the State.Parrikar who had initially restricted himself from commenting on the ban on SRS, had earlier this week had emphatically stated on the Floor of House that the government will not allow Sri Ram Sene to carry out its activities in Goa and threatened that its chief Pramod Muthalik will be banned if he tries to foment trouble in Goa.
The Sri Ram Sene had announced its plans to start the outfit in the State by September to fight against drug, alcohol and pub culture.
