MARGAO
Damu Naik and his team took over the reins of the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on Thursday, with the former Chairman mooting phase-wise resumption of art and cultural activities in times of pandemic, even as he underlined the need to make the cultural institution self-sustaining.
Moments after he and his governing council members took charge of office on Thursday morning, Damu hit out at the outgoing Chairman and Goa Forward spokesperson Prashant Naik, taking strong exception to the statement that Ravindra Bhavan should not be converted into a political den.
“Ravindra Bhavan is a cultural institution and there is no scope for politics here. Politics was never a part of Ravindra Bhavan’s activities during my previous tenure. But, the outgoing panel had made the institution a political ‘adda’, he said, saying that BJP need not use Ravindra Bhavan for politics when the party has a spacious office just meters away.
He also questioned the outgoing panel for doing nothing to get the Vigilance case cleared vis-Ã -vis the annex building, where an audio studio was proposed. “These people were in the government and they could have resolved the matter, but in vain. Now, they talk about the annex building and expect the new panel to take steps to get the case cleared,” he added.
Reminding that the outgoing panel had adopted a resolution at its first meeting to institute a Vigilance probe against him, Damu sought to know the outcome of the inquiry. “Those who do indulge in illegal activities should not point fingers at others,” he added.
Saying that Ravindra Bhavan, Margao should be self-sustaining and stand on its own legs, the new Chairman, however, said it will take some time for the situation to return to normalcy. “Theatres have reopened, but are there enough people to watch the movies. The General Council members will discuss how to restart the activities at the Ravindra Bhavan, beginning with virtual programs and slowly restoring the activities step by step,” he added.
Thanking Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, BJP party chief Sadanand Tanavade for entrusted him the responsibility of the Ravindra Bhavan, Damu said he would leave no stone unturned to raise the bar of the cultural institution for the benefit of the arts and culture lovers from Margao in particular and Salcete in general.
