MARGAO: The general secretary Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Acharya Radhakrishna Manori’s statement on banning beef and cow slaughter in Goa has evoked sharp reactions in the minority- dominated Salcete taluka on Monday, with a demand for ban on the VHP in Goa. The collective demand is for banning the VHP in state.
Manori on Sunday had made a statement in Vasco that that within next two years, the VHP will ban beef consumption and cow slaughtering in Goa.
The political class, religious persons and the common people have raised objection to the statement, claiming that it amounts to tearing the communal fabric of the state.
The Minister for Town and Country Planning (TCP) Vijai Sardesai was first to condemn it. Sardesai said that it (the utterances) is totally unconstitutional.
“As a minister, I want to tell VHP very clearly that it should not tell us what to eat. There is a constitutional freedom for it. The VHP will be banned in Goa if such utterances are repeated,” he said.
What the ‘outsider’ VHP leader said is against law, and unacceptable, he said, adding the VHP will meet the same fate as Pramod Muthalik, whose entry is banned in Goa.
Interestingly, Sardesai said these are not his own views, but are of the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
“I have spoken to him. What I expressed is in consultation with the Chief Minister. You (media) can ask him about it and if he negates it, I would come out with another statement soon,” he said.
“We too have the people to fight against the VHP. Do not test our (GFP) capabilities,”GFP supremo warned. Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo said that the VHP has no right to ban beef in Goa.
“Though this was expected from the BJP-led government, I want the Chief Minister Parrikar and its allies to come clean on the beef issue. VHP should be banned in Goa immediately to protect the age old communal harmony of the state,”he said.
Churchill Alemao, the lone NCP MLA, also reacted sharply.
“Who is the VHP general secretary to tell Goans not to consume beef. VHP has no right to stop beef. If they believe and worship cow so much, why do they drink cow milk and wear slippers of cow leather?” he asked, adding the VHP should banned for the betterment of Goa.
Fr Eremto Rebello, activist and parish priest of Rachol church, said , “In Goa, people respect cow and he being from that particular family, he remembers his mother used to take care of cow till its death.”
“Why ban meat of bull? Secondly, practice of certain religious belief should not be imposed on other religion. My beliefs are for myself, and banning beef is completely wrong. The RSS elements want to make India into religious fanatic state, and secularism is under threat. Therefore, for all the people who believe in secularism, now is the time to unite and defeat the fanatic religious forces,” Fr Rebello said.
Jose Fernandes, a resident of Margao said that even if the VHP tries to ban beef, it will not happen. “We know how to react to it.” he added.
Azgaonkar: one cannot take objection to type of food others eat
PANAJI: Minister for Tourism Manohar ‘Babu’ Azgaonkar, on Monday, said that he has no objection to anybody eating beef in the state, even though the stand of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), which he represents, may be different. Reacting to the remark made by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Sunday about banning beef in Goa, the Tourism Minister said that he believes that one cannot take objection to the type of food others eat, and added that there should no restriction on eating and drinking by any individual. “If the media wants my party’s stand, then you should ask MGP leader Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar about it. But as far as I am concerned, I have no objection to anyone eating beef,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, stating that he wants total ban on drug trade on beaches, Azgaonkar opined that all 40 MLAs and others including his department officials must work together to eradicate drug menace from the state.
On the controversy over his statement against ‘Lamanis,’ he said that he has not made any remarks against the particular community, and added that he cannot hurt any of such community as he himself comes from the backward community. NT