Konkani Mandal condemns stir outside Bhembre’s residence

Margao: The Konkani Bhasha Mandal (KBM) strongly condemned Friday night’s incident at the residence of Konkani writer and Sahitya Akademi awardee Uday Bhembre, and demanded strict and immediate action against those responsible. A protest meeting is scheduled for Sunday at 4.30pm in front of Bhembre’s house in Agali, where its further course of action will be determined, announced Konkani Bhasha Mandal president Ratnamala Divkar at a press conference.

The incident occurred after Bhembre challenged chief minister Pramod Sawant’s assertion that ‘Shivshahi’ existed in Goa and that Shivaji Maharaj prevented religious conversions in the region. In response to Bhembre’s statements, Bajrang Dal workers demonstrated outside his residence.

“Uday Bhembre has made invaluable contributions to Goa. In a democracy, everyone has the right to express their opinions,” stated Divkar. “If anyone disagreed with Bhembre’s views, they could have engaged him in discussion. Instead, what transpired on Friday was pure hooliganism and constitutes verbal and mental harassment of an 85-year-old man.”

Divkar further expressed concern over govt’s failure to take action against the suspects, questioning its intentions in the matter.

Prakash Naik, who was present alongside Ramesh Komarpant, Dinesh Manerkar, and Nilba Khandekar, said that the Konkani community would not tolerate such treatment of Bhembre. Naik also highlighted historical inaccuracies in the criticism against Bhembre, stating, “The Portuguese arrived in Goa in 1510, while Shivaji Maharaj was born in 1630 and died in 1680, being ill for three years prior to his death.”

He urged the chief minister to ensure those who created the disturbance outside Bhembre’s residence are arrested forthwith.