Team Herald
MARGAO: The official launch of Anup Ashok Sardesai’s book ‘Nathuram Godse: The Story of an Assassin’ was denied permission late Friday evening. Sources have claimed that the denial intimation came after the South District Magistrate wrote to the Ravindra Bhavan asking them to reject permissions to hold the function in government premises.
The book launch, which was slated for January 30 at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, was caught in a storm after a political franchise objected to the release, alleging that it is being held on the day of Mahatma’s assassination by purpose to glorify his assassins. However, the writer is firm on holding the book launch at a private venue.
The mail sent by the Ravindra Bhavan to Sardesai said, “The permission to hold the book launch is hereby cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances”.
Speaking about the sudden cancellation, Sardesai said, “I don’t have anyone to blame, but I feel ‘goondagiri’ wins here over democracy. Taking a step that curbs my democratic right is uncalled for.”
He added that his determination has become stronger and he has decided to go ahead with the book launch in any circumstances and will finalise his venue by Saturday morning.
Sardesai has already written to the police informing about the event and has asked them to take action against the people who wish to interrupt the book release. He has also rubbished claims of the new political outfit of being sympathetic to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin and has dared them to serve him a legal notice if something is wrong in his book.
At a press briefing on Friday, Sardesai agreed that he was caught in a political storm and claimed that this is a clash of political interests between two parties. He said, “I am sure that the people who are opposing the book have not read it. It has nothing against anyone. My aim with this book is to bring to fore the history of India during that age and I have done much research to for it.”
He continued, “For the last two days, a vicious campaign is being run by certain vested interests to create a controversy. Some people have posted on social media that I am attempting to malign the image of the Mahatma and glorify his assassin. These rumour mongers have gone on to say that the official launch of the book on January 30 is an attempt to mock the Mahatma’s assassination and justify his murder. This book was released on sites like Flipkart, Amazon, Shopclues and Paytm on October 15, 2015. I am releasing the book on January 30 as it is based on Gandhiji’s assassination. Over three months have passed since the release of this book. If it contained material that denigrated the Mahatma, it would have been banned by now.”
Sardesai added, “I do not understand the motives of certain people behind creating controversies where none existed. As a citizen of this sovereign, democratic nation, I have every right to express my sentiments without fear. I do not understand why some people resort to ‘goondagiri’ and try to suppress our voice in the name of Gandhi. By doing so, are they examples of Gandhism?”
