The President of Goa BJP, Sadanand Tanavade lamented the behaviour of some people in Margao, who were protesting against the inflammatory remarks made by an ex- RSS Chief. He condemned the blocking of roads and two reported incidents, which apparently took place. If the incidents really occurred, I join him in deploring this behaviour, as protests ought not to inconvenience people, especially when they are in a hurry or need to attend to emergencies.

 

However, Mr. Tanavade must first explain to us why has he not said a word on the remarks, which provoked the protests. Was he or his Party supporting it, or, as is suspected by many, was his Party or some of its leaders behind the remarks to distract people’s attention from the much graver problems of sale and conversion of land and mega projects, patronized by his government, which have provoked massive protests all over Goa?

 

Further, will Mr Tanavade accept that the protests and people coming on the roads were caused by the inaction of the Police, which is in contempt of Supreme Court directives by not acting suo motu against communal remarks and not even after complaints were filed at many Police stations? Isn’t his Party’s own Home and Chief Minister also responsible for creating this situation? Can the leaders of the protests be blamed if there was a massive response and the spill on the roads was caused by sheer numbers?