PANAJI: In an interesting turn of events, the Panaji constituency candidate of the Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) for the recently held state assembly polls Ketan Bhatikar, on Thursday, charged the GSM of shifting from its original agenda of protecting local languages and instead of uniting Goa, using divisive language by raising issues such as ban on Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik and Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Goa, as well as Velim church attack.
A physiotherapist by profession, Bhatikar came a poor fourth with just 323 votes in the Panaji constituency at the recent state assembly election, with Bharatiya Janata party’s Sidharth Kunkalienkar emerging victorious.
He had replaced Krishnaraj Sukerkar as the GSM candidate for the particular election, after Sukerkar backed out on health grounds.
Announcing his support to Manohar Parrikar during the forthcoming by-election in Panaji constituency, Bhatikar told the media at a press conference that he objects to the support extended by the GSM leaders to Muthalik.
He also demanded to know as to why the GSM has till date not introspected over its miserable defeat in the last assembly
election.
GSM president, Anand Shirodkar had recently asked the BJP-led government to lift the ban on Muthalik from entering the state.
Bhatikar further praised Parrikar as well as the Minister for Town and Country Planning Vijai Sardesai for their work.