Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday announced in the State Legislative Assembly that his government has banned the entry of controversial right wing Hindu outfit Sri Ram Sene headed by right wing leader Pramod Muthalik in Goa.
Mr. Parrikar was replying to the queries raised by the members of the Assembly during discussion on budget demands for Police, Home and others, on Wednesday evening. Mr. Parrikar who holds Home portfolio said that the decision to ban the controversial organisation was taken after the government got a police report following various utterances of its officials, that the Sene could vitiate law and order situation in the State.
His reference was to repeated assertions by Mr. Muthalik recently that no one including Mr. Parrikar can stop him outfit from setting base in Goa. The outfit had made statements against pub culture and other issues inviting outrage from local groups and civil society against its plans of 'moral policing'. He also announced his government’s policy of “zero tolerance” in regard to registration and investigation of cases of crime against women, by the police.
Mr. Parrikar said that the government will clamp down very heavily on drunken driving in the tourist State.
The Hindu Janjagruti Samiti(HJS), rightwing Hindu outfit on Thursday condemned the Goa alliance government led by Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) for ban imposed on SRS’s activities in Goa.
HJS co-hosts annual all India Hindu convention here in association with other rightwing Hindu outfits including Sri Ram Sene(SRS) of Pramod Muthalik.
A spokesperson of HJS said that the said ban imposed by the government on SRS was not only unjust but also “insulting’ for the Hindus.
In local media here Mr. Muthalik has been quoted on Thursday stating that the ban on SRS was unconstitutional and that he will approach the court of law to challenge the same. Attempts to reach Mr. Muthalik on Thursday could not succeed as ‘incoming calls on his cell have been barred.’
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced on the floor of the State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday evening that Sri Ram Sene was banned by the government from operating in Goa following police reports based on various utterances of officials of the outfit that the Sene could vitiate law and order situation in the State.
Civil society groups, Goa Catholics Association and others have been demanding a ban on the outfit in Goa fearing moral policing by its activists in the coastal tourist State, if it sets up a base. Mr. Muthalik had repeatedly asserted that he will set up a branch of SRS in Goa and nobody could prevent him from doing so.
