Unlike every 2 months in the past, Muthalik now banned for 4 months
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 22 September 2015 19:49 IST
For the first time, the Bharatiya Janata Party government has issued an order of banning entry of Pramod Muthalik and his Ram Sene members into Goa by four months, unlike every two months in the past.
Muthalik and his Ram Sene team have now been banned from entering Goa till 14 January next year.
Perhaps this is a result of the Supreme Court upholding the ban orders issued by both the Congress and the BJP governments, since 2009.
On 31 August, the Supreme Court had upheld the high court order, which Muthalik had challenged, rejecting his petition to strike down the ban order.
The apex court, while rejecting his plea, had told Muthalik that Goa does not need his moral policing but Goans are capable enough to taking care of their interest.
"Sri Ram Sene activists barge into a pub and beat up boys and girls. We are sorry for the time being. Come after six months," the court had told him, reminding him the manner in which his Ram Sene people had dragged out boys and girls from pubs in Mangalore in 2009.
When Muthalik announced to enter Goa with his Ram Sene, the then Congress government had banned Muthalik’s entry into Goa.
Later, after the BJP came to power in March 2012, the right wing extremist had entered Goa and had announced to open first Ram Sene branch by inviting then BJP chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
Goan youth had then come together by starting a Facebook page and then marching to the then chief minister’s bungalow, demanding ban on his entry. Parrikar had then banned his entry.
While his entry was later relaxed, Muthalik came back to Goa in 2014 at a Hindu Sammelan and announced to curb pub culture and free lifestyle of Goa by opening branches.
Following this, Muthalik and Ram Sene have been banned in Goa since 19 August 2014.
The ban order was extended by two months every time.
However, this is the first time the ban order has been extended by 120 days, till 14 January.
The order states:
"The district magistrate on the basis of report received from the Superintendent of Police has expressed the necessity to extend the ban of Muthalik and his associates/members of Sri Ram Sene for a further period as government may deem fit, as there is apprehension that in case of the orders are lifted then there is a possibility of violence and serious law and order situation disturbing the communal harmony, tourism and creating fear in the mind of public and tourists."
