Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: In a turn of events, washing off its hands and denying their involvement in the unprecedented closure of Weekly Bazaar at Chaudi on Saturday, Hindavi Swaraj Sanghatan (HSS) blamed the applicants seeking permission for ‘Juluse’ in Canacona as responsible for the closure of the Weekly Bazaar of Canacona on Saturday.
Addressing the media on Sunday, Hindavi Swaraj Sanghatan office bearers explained their main concern is to avoid trouble and unlawfulness and stop the rising arrogance of the Muslim community in the otherwise peaceful taluka.
HSS convener Samrat Bhagat said, “On Thursday during the presentation of our memorandum to the Dy. Collector, and after many of the accompanying people affirming Saturday weekly bazaar brings in anti-social elements and instigates local traders in Canacona”.
He said a statement was made in that context: ‘We do not require Saturday weekly bazaar’ in Canacona.
“Our intention was to meet the CMC Chairperson and submit her a memorandum and hold a discussion on the weekly bazaar either on upcoming Monday or Tuesday, but suddenly on Saturday itself the scheduled weekly bazaar was not opened and almost all outstation traders stayed away. We (HSS) did not close it. Neither, any of our Sanghatan’s Committee members (Padh-Adhikari) nor any of our members has any involvement in it. Also none amongst us or on our behalf anyone was present at the bazaar site, as everybody was busy with their own work or with their families,” he stated.
He said instead of their non-involvement, it has been made out that we as HSS have closed and didn’t allow the weekly bazaar to open on Saturday, which is completely wrong.
“We do not have our hand to close yesterday’s (Saturday) bazaar. If we want to close it, we would do it officially by giving a memorandum to the CMC chairperson and taking all the councillors in confidence. We won’t do it illegally or by force, that is not in our genes,” insisted Bhagat
Speaking further Bhagat said, ‘We feel, the main reason to close down Saturday bazaar, is the outcome or side action of our pertinent demand to stop the ‘Juluse’ with the participation of outstation Muslims from happening in Canacona and there are very much ill-feelings against us amongst the Juluse organisers (applicants). So, I feel someone amongst the people/organisers who apply for ‘Juluse’ permission time and again have themselves conveyed to the outstation traders (Belgaum, Hubli, Dharwad, etc.) who were coming for Weekly Bazaar in Chaudi not to come this Saturday, just with an aim to create a negative frame in the people’s mind against us (HSS),” he said.
He said they did this to prove that because we want to stop Juluse, the weekly bazaar is closed by and because of us. It is their plan to show us in a bad light with the people like, Shacks, Restaurants, Labourers and many households who are dependent on the Weekly bazaar.’
‘It is not our intention to close down the weekly bazaar as many people are dependent on it, but a few outstation vendors from Kumta, Hubli, and Belgaum are instigating and sponsoring local Muslims to take out Juluse by force and we are opposed to these type of people who are coming for the weekly bazaar. We are opposed to this type of mentality, to spread hatred and create trouble locally. We have studied their certain behaviours for the last two months, and it’s only because of them we have said, that we do not need a Weekly bazaar in Canacona. We do not have any problem for anyone doing any business here or anywhere in Canacona.’, Samrat Bhagat.
Jeetendra Amshekar, an HM of a school, gave examples of how Hindus are being treated in Bangladesh and also raked up a quote from UP Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi about the Muslim community.
Further, there is a serious angle for the people of opposing to take out Juluse in Canacona. According to Amshekar, Muslims in Canacona have challenged Hindus that by bringing people from outside they will anyhow and somehow take out Juluse and show their power and strength. ‘Even our Governor (Goa) has said, today our Hindu population is going down, whereas Muslim population is increasing day by day. If we want to think in those terms then Canconcars needs to work for it’.
Prashant Dessai and Ashok Dhuri also expressed their concerns of the threat posed to the Hindu community.
HSS President Dilkush Shet appealed to all the Devasthan committees, Samaj Adhyaksha’s, Councilors, Panchas and Sarpanchas, and Ganesh Mandals, to remain present for a meeting to discuss the threat of Muslims ‘Juluse’ at Devgipurush Sabhagraha on 2nd Oct at 5 pm in large numbers.
