Herald, 31 January 2008 GCE principal says no to Hindu meet BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 30 — The proposed Hindu Janjagruti Sabha being organized in Goa from February 1 has run into a controversy over its venue which they have declared as Goa College of Engineering (GCE) grounds at Farmagudi, Ponda, which is government property. The controversy picked up momentum earlier this week following wide publicity accorded to the Sabha and its venue all over the State. According to critics, the Sabha is being attended and addressed by prominent leaders from the BJP, RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal. Following strong criticism from various quarters, the Principal of the GCE Krishna M Gupt clarified that the college has not granted any permission and has conveyed its actions to the government.
Gupt speaking to Herald on Wednesday said, "It is a fact that the organisers approached the college seeking to use the college grounds." The principal further said that there appears to be some misunderstanding on the issue as the college did not consent to the use of its grounds and instead forwarded the application to the government. Gupt told Herald that the government has got back to the college stating that the grounds cannot be used. He said this has been conveyed to the organisers. Herald understands that the Sabha scheduled earlier in January this year failed to take off as the SDM, Ponda rejected applications for licenses for use of sound systems on the grounds that the Ponda civic elections were scheduled and no permissions would be issued until January 29. --- Disassociate from Hindu sabha, CPI-M tells MGP MLAs BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 30 — The CPI-M has also come down heavily against the Hindu Janjagruti Sabha. The CPI-M has taken note of the participation of the MGP MLAs in the Sabha and has urged the party MLAs to disassociate from the RSS-VHP-Bajrang Dal supported Hindu Janajagruti Sabha. According to the CPI(M) Secretary Thalmann Pereira the objectives of the proposed meeting is to allegedly counter the Muslim and Christian religions, which are portrayed to be against the Hindu religion. Pereira has raised queries as to how the MGP MLAs supporting the Congress and NCP leaders in New Delhi are sharing the same platform with BJP-RSS-VHP-BajrangDal stalwarts for such propaganda in Goa. The CPI(M) has also questioned the wisdom of the Congress-NCP alliance Government in Goa in allowing the government property for alleged communal purpose. CICH: A delegation from the Citizens' Initiatives for Communal Harmony called on the Chief Secretary and made representations to the Chief Minister and Education Secretary regarding the proposed 'Dharma Janjagruti Sabha' to be held at Farmagudi on February 1. The organizers, the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS), have issued a pamphlet stating that the meet will be organised on the grounds of Government Engineering College, Farmagudi. According to the pamphlet, the programme at Farmagudi is to be addressed and attended by prominent leaders of the BJP, RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal. The stated objectives of the proposed meeting are to counter the assaults by Muslims and Christians, who are portrayed as aggressors against the Hindu religion, Ramesh Gauns, the convenor said in a press note issued here. The provocative agenda listed in the pamphlet is clearly intended to create a feeling of siege and paranoia within the Hindu community, and thus lay the ground for reprisals against these imagined assaults on Hindus and the Hindu religion, he added. CICH objected strongly to the premises of a government educational institution being used for communal propaganda and hate speech, and for promoting sectarian political agendas. The Chief Secretary clarified that no permission has been granted to the organizers to hold this meet on the Engineering College grounds, and that this Sabha will not be held there. He said that the organizers had mentioned the venue without obtaining the requisite permission. ---- Religion, politics are two different issues: Sudin BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 30 — Responding to the press communiqué from the CPI-M, Sudin Dhavlikar today said, "Religion and politics are two different issues." "Nobody can stop me from participating in my dharm," he said flaying the CPI-M for attempting to create differences. Dhavlikar said that the sabha has been organized successfully in Goa in the past in Bicholim and Mapusa and was even attended by him then. Dhavlikar further said that he not only participates in programmes of his own dharm but also in the Old Goa feast thereby cutting across communal lines He also said that the forthcoming sabha is being organized at the GEC ground for the simple reason that there is no other ground available in Ponda. He further countered queries on the issue pointing out that most Muslim prayer sessions are also held on sports grounds in the state. -- (M) 9326137682 "If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it." — Margaret Fuller
