THE GOAN NETWORK
CANACONA
A large number of people under the banner of Hindavi Swaraj Sanghatan gathered outside the Canacona Dy Collectorate on Thursday to demand a permanent ban on the ‘Julus’ procession by the Muslim community in Canacona.
The people gathered after responding to a call by the Hindavi Swarajya Sangathan to join in large numbers to hand over a memorandum to the Dy Collector of Canacona on Thursday morning, following reports of a third application being made to seek permission to hold the Julus on Sunday.
Incidentally, the deputy collector had denied permissions for the Julus on two earlier occasions.
As the crowd grew in numbers, it was announced that due to the absence of Canacona Dy Collector Madhu Narvekar who is on training deputation out of the State, the Quepem Dy Collector, who is given charge of Canacona taluka, is preoccupied with a court matter at Quepem and was unable to reach Canacona to receive the memorandum.
Later, the memorandum was submitted in the office of the Deputy Collector, while a copy was handed over to Canacona Mamlatdar Manoj Korgaonkar stating why the ‘Julus’ should be permanently prohibited in Canacona taluka.
Speakers also demanded shutting down the Saturday Weekly Bazaar where only non-Hindu traders from Hubli, Dharwad and Belgaum come in large numbers with their goods.
Speakers addressing the people accused some Muslims leaders in Canacona of deliberately submitting an application for the third time to hold the procession (Julus) in Canacona, even though two previous applications were rejected by authorities. They claimed that there was nothing traditional in the Julus procession.
Samrat Bhagat, one of the speakers, warned that if authorities allowed the Julus procession in Canacona despite the opposition, there will be a law and order problem in the taluka.
“This Julus procession is not traditional in Canacona, but some members of the Muslim community are deliberately attempting to impose it in Canacona with malicious intentions,” said Bhagat.
“We will not allow it to happen and we will not remain silent.”
A police force was present to maintain law and order, and to avoid any untoward incident.
Viraj Desai (Bajrang Dal), Raju Jha (Gauraksha Samiti), CMC Councillor Shubham Komarpant, Tulshidas Kamat (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), former Khotigao sarpanch Anandu Desai, Gaondongrim Sarpanch Dhillon Desai, High School Headmaster Jitendra Amshekar of Kamdhenu Sanstha, Pramod Naik Gaonkar (Mallikarjun Devasthan Samiti), Pramod Prabhudesai (Loliem Damodar Devasthan) and former CMC Chairperson Ratnakar Dhuri among others spoke at the gathering.
Representatives of various organisations and office-bearers of some Devasthans/temples in Canacona showed their support and assured to fight for the welfare of Hindus along with Hindvi Swaraj Sanghatan.
