PONDA: Vasanth Bhat, who along with two other locals was discharged of stone pelting/assault case against Sanatan Ashram and its seekers, has said that the Sanstha wants to silence his voice.
Reacting to the discharge, Bhat said, “I was targeted by Sanatan Sanstha because I led the agitation launched by Bandora locals.”
He said that in 2009, on the eve of Narkasur competition during Diwali celebration there was bomb blast in Margao which rocked not only Goa but the whole of India.
He said that when the facts surrounding the bomb blast started to emerge, the needle of suspicion was pointing towards Sanathan Sanstha and the police and SIT officials started visiting the Ashram. Due to this, the locals become suspicious about the activities of the members of Sanstha.
“Therefore, the locals came together under the banner Bandora Janajagruthi Manch; then meetings and agitation commenced to oppose Sanatan Sanstha in our village. Because, we didn’t want any evil activities taking place in our village,” he said.
“The agitation of locals went viral in Goa and I was the leader of agitation and morcha against the Sanstha. Our agitation was peaceful and democratic and as per provisions of the Constitution,” Bhat said.
“To suppress the agitation and voice of the people, the Sanatan filed false case against me in the court as I was the leader,” he said adding that by doing so, “It is abusing the law to silence the voice of the people.”
Bhat said that he is a priest by profession in Ramnathi temple, but the Sanatan accused him of being an antisocial. “But the court rejected this allegations,” he pointed out.
He said that people do not need the teaching of Sanatan as to how they should practice the Hindu Dharma in their lives. “We know it better than Sanatan,” he quipped.
Commenting on Narkasur Effigy competition in Goa, he said since long there is practices among Goans to burn the effigy of Narkasura and celebrate Diwali. “It is victory of good over evil. There is also tradition in our country when people make huge effigies during Dusseheras to celebrate victory over evil,” he said.
“In Goa, we not only burn the effigy of Narkasura, but also worship Krishna. Hence, there is no need of religious preaching by Sanatan by opposing to Narkasura contest,” he asserted.
