L' affair Bolmax needs to make Goans very, very wary of what the government is planning for us in the run up to the parliamentary elections 2024. An innocuous statement by a priest was twisted out of context by the rabid right wing claiming that it had hurt the sentiments of the majority community. As if the disruptive Bajrang Dal, Hindu Vahini and Vishwa Hindu Parishad were not enough, we now have to contend with a new breed of self appointed defenders of the Hindu faith, the Shivpremis whose raison d'etre is taking offence to perceived anti-Hinduism at the drop of a hat. Chief Minister who repeatedly refused to discuss Manipur in the legislative assembly, yesterday sanctimoniously raised the issue of the priest's statement and wasted close to an hour over things which don't even merit attention. A few months back, Velingkar, an RSS ideologue made disparaging remarks regarding St Francis Xavier going so far as to say that terming SFX as 'Goencho Saib' was antinational. This incendiary 'bakwas' was conveniently not taken note of by Pramod Sawant ; different strokes for different folks. Following the CM's dogwhistling, other ministers also started baying for Father Bolmax's blood even though he had issued an apology . At regular intervals, the bogey of Portuguese destroying hundreds of Hindu temples is raised by the ruling party, the Sanghis want to perpetuate their venomous bigoted agenda and turn peaceful Goa into another communal cauldron. Beware, good folk of Goa ; see through the saffronist's machinations and stay united, do not let these politicians divide you for their narrow ends.
