Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik’s entry into the party was stalled because of his alleged “anti women and violent activities”.
“BJP’s local Karnataka unit committed the mistake due to some localised reasons but the party corrected it (mistake),” Mr. Parrikar told mediapersons responding to a question at a party head office on Monday in Panaji.
He said feedback given by several leaders claimed that since the party is vibrant and democratic and believes in principles of progressive policies, such people should not be allowed. “That was the reason why his party membership was rejected,” the senior BJP leader said.
“Even I had told the party leadership that we have no space for people who are known more for anti-women and violent activities,” Mr. Parrikar added.
Former Congress-led Goa government had banned entry of the Sri Ram Sene in the state while Mr. Parrikar, after taking charge, had claimed that he would not like such people to begin their activities in the state.
The Congress party on Monday claimed that BJP’s stand of not allowing Mr. Muthalik was “merely an eye wash”.
“Muthalik was not admitted in the party at the behest of some state leaders. Person of such stature usually join only after national leadership gives its nod,” Congress Goa spokesman Sunil Kawthankar told reporters in Panaji.
Mr. Kawthankar claimed that Mr. Muthalik will join BJP if the party wrests power at the Centre.
The BJP had on Sunday inducted Mr. Muthalik, the controversial chief of Sri Ram Sene linked to the attack on women at a pub in Mangalore in 2009, and then dumped him within hours after opposition from within and severe flak from other parties.
Mr. Muthalik, who is facing some 45 cases including those relating to promoting enmity between two communities, was welcomed into the party fold in the presence of Karnataka party president Prahalad Joshi, former Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar and former Deputy Chief Minister K.S. Eshwarappa at a function in Hubli.
But, as Congress and other parties latched on the issue to attack BJP and rumblings began within the party, BJP president Rajnath Singh directed Mr. Joshi to rescind the move.
