MARGAO
Bajrang Dal’s late Friday evening protest at the residence of noted Konkani writer Adv Uday Bhembre sparked outrage and all round condemnation even as intellectuals, thinkers, politicians and the civil society expressed their solidarity with the eminent writer on Saturday.
The civil society condemned the protests in no uncertain terms, saying that the protest by Bajrang Dal is a clear attack on the freedom of speech and expression. Asserting that mobocracy has no place in Goan culture, they urged the government, led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, to take suo moto cognizance of the incident and swiftly curb any emerging threats in the state.
In fact, Bhembre’s residence played host to a stream of visitors throughout Saturday, including former chief minister Luizinho Faleiro, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes,
thinker Datta Damodar Naik, former student leaders Mohandas Lolienkar and Sandesh Prabhudesai, besides Civil society members Journalist Sandesh Prabhudesai said that Uday Bhembre occupies an important place in Goa’s history, to protect Goa’s identity during the opinion poll, and his battle for Konkani and statehood.
“India is a democratic country and no one has the right to curtail the freedom of another person not to speak on Shivaji. Throughout his life, Bhembre has tried to take forward Shivaji’s values by taking people of all communities together”, he added.
Mohandas Lolienkar said the Bajrang Dal should have invited Uday Bhembre for a debate and not settle issue through mobocracy. Saying that Bhembre is an ex-MLA and a thinker, Mohandas said the government should have taken swift action against those who trespassed in the property and formed an unlawful assembly outside Bhembre’s residence.
Thinker Datta Damodar Naik said what has happened at the residence of Uday Bhembre does not augur well for democracy. The incident has come at a time when the government is holding D D Kosambe festival series.
South Goa MP Viriato Fernades said he was anguished over the manner in which a group of persons went about protesting outside Uday Bhembre’s residence. Saying this is a blatant attack on freedom of speech and expression, the MP said such things cannot take place in Goa. “As the Home Minister, the Chief Minister should find out whether such incidents augur well for the future of Goa. This only goes to show the direction in which Goa is moving”, he added.
Condemning the incident, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has appealed to Chief Minister to ensure that Goa remains as Goan and not Bihar or Uttar Pradesh. “People should have the right to free speech and expression. The incident has happened in my constituency. Uday Bhembre is a thinker. Those aggrieved by his statement ought to have come for a debate and not resort to protests”, he added.
Former Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro said that debate and discussion is part of the democratic process and culture. “Uday Bhembre is a poet, historian. Shivaji is also a great leader of the country. What has happened at his residence is every unfortunate. It does not fit in our Goan society’, Faleiro added.
Elvis Gomes, Victor Gonsavles, Savio Coutinho, Anthony D’Silva and many others came to express their solidarity with Uday Bhembre.
