Ban “Sanatani” organizations to prevent killings of progressive writers: Goa Congress to State Govt

Goa: Goa Congress claimed that banning of “Sanatani” organizations will prevent the killings of progressive writers and thinkers. Giving this justification, the party appealed to Goa Government to ban “Sanatani” organizations.

According to the report published in Business Standard, Mr. Girish Chodankar, President of Goa Congress cited the arrests of right-wing activists. The arrests were made from the neighbouring state, Maharashtra and Karnataka. These persons were arrested in connections with the murders of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and journalist Gauri Lankesh.

It may be mentioned that in 2013, Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead in Pune whereas, Govind Pansare was murdered in 2015. Gauri Lankesh was killed in 2017.

In the murder of writer and scholar MM Kalburgi, investigating agencies are probing whether Hindutva activists are involved in it. Mr. Kalburgi was killed in Karnataka in 2015.

It is also reported that recently, ATS of Maharashtra had arrested three right-wing activists and seized crude bombs from their possession. It is also suspected that the intention of these activists was to launch terror attacks.

Mr. Chodankar further said that another prominent writer, Damodar Mauzo (73) also faced life threats.

In July 2018, security was provided to Mauzo after intelligence inputs.