Bhembre blames Sangh policy with state backing for Bajrang Dal protests outside his house

Margao: Sahitya Akademi recipient Uday Bhembre, who is also a former Margao MLA, denounced the recent protests outside his residence in Gogol and blamed “Sangh policy aided and assisted by those in power”.
I was not intimidated by the demonstration, the 86-year-old veteran of the Konkani movement, said in the aftermath of Friday's confrontation. “I didn’t feel threatened by the incident as I faced many such incidents right from the Opinion Poll days,” Bhembre told TOI. “Moreover, I sensed the group didn’t have any intention to harm me or my family, or to create any violence.”
The controversy erupted after Bhembre challenged CM Pramod Sawant’s claims that most of Goa was under ‘Shiv Shahi’ (Shivaji’s rule) when the Portuguese held sway over 3-4 talukas, and that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj prevented Portuguese conversion efforts. In his YouTube statement, Bhembre cited historical references contradicting these assertions.
Bhembre, who is also a lawyer, said the incident reflects a broader pattern of intimidation. “In every state governed by BJP govt, the fringe elements behave in a similar manner — minority harassment, suppressing any voices of dissent — because they have full confidence that no action will be taken against them, and that instead they will be turned into heroes.”
He said, “Right from Goa’s Liberation until some four years ago, there was never any antagonism towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj nor was there a trend to glorify him, save for statues erected at one or two places.”
Bhembre said this trend is due to two factors, “One related to religion, as the Sangh considers Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as an icon of Hindutva, and the other reason being Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has turned to be an icon of caste (Kshatriya Maratha) in Goa.”
During his confrontation with Bhembre on Friday, Bajrang Dal’s Viraj Dessai accused Bhembre of insulting the Maratha emperor and uploading videos portraying Hinduism negatively. The confrontation ended after Bhembre’s son intervened and told the protesters to return another day to discuss their concerns.
Bhembre said, when asked, that neither the chief minister, nor anybody from govt or from BJP, reached out to him after the incident. “Not that I have any expectation from this govt of any decency or democratic behaviour. Absolutely not.”


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