Human beings suffer from diseases some way or the other. They change a human being from inside out when they arrive. And at times, they even take the human being with them when they depart, while leaving a huge impact on family members too. This also imparts somewhat a new perspective about life to those who see this from close. The disease is a true humanist. It does not differentiate between poor and rich. It affects everyone equally. Politicians, movie stars, industrialists, actors, all of them have been claimed by cancer. And it has spread its claws around some prominent politicians. But in the recent times, Goa CM Manohar Parrikar is in news for different reasons.  

That his cancer is at terminal stage has been revealed by BJP leaders themselves in an official press statement. A minister said though his disease has advanced, he is still proactive in the administration. At the same time, Goa Speaker has said Parrikar will remain the CM of Goa till the end. It’s not like a cancer stricken person shouldn’t occupy high posts. In the recent times Goa CM’s picture splashed across all media outlets. He was wearing a tube in his nose, and had gone terribly weak physically. In this picture, he was participating in the session. It didn’t look like he was fit to take part in the administration under such dire condition. More than anything else, a cancer patient has his own dignity. A weak body and tube running through the nose is a bit dramatic to be seen in the house.

It is evident that he cannot take care of the administration under such circumstances. BJP is running a government in Goa only with Parrikar’s name in the front. In some ways there is no post of CM in Goa per se. Or the office of a CM has been shifted to a hospital ward. At this stage, Parrikar has to resign voluntarily. It was his duty to do that and hand over the post to someone else. But this has not happened. More than that, BJP has clearly said he will continue to be the CM till the end.  

One wonders whether BJP is using Parrikar’s health as a political tool. It is trying to show Parrikar’s weak pictures to people to emphasise he is working for people’s good even till the end of his breath trying to evoke public sympathy, just as the party is doing politics over soldiers dead bodies. This is not just inhuman but also shows the desperate situation BJP is in. This is a shameless stage that BJP has reached to stay in power. Parrikar is a failed defence minister. He resigned from the post of union defence minister to become the CM of Goa.  

He played a big role to clinch power for BJP in Goa. In this backdrop, BJP may have assumed he has to remain in the seat of CM till the end. But one wonders whether the people of Goa need to pay this price at all. There is another argument behind Parrikar continuing as the CM. He is said to be part of the Rafale deal as well and he holds some vital documents regarding the deal. If there is an investigation, Parrikar is sure to be arrested. So it is inevitable that he continues as CM. He is also blackmailing the BJP leaders while holding on to Rafale deal. Hence they are hesitating to seek his resignation.

He knows the most important aspects of the deal but he has made it clear that he did not have any important role to play in this aspect. This must be the first time in the history of the country that a leader is running the state from his hospital ward at the terminal stage of cancer. This also shows BJP’s helplessness and absence of choice of candidates for the post of Goa CM. Hence the party will use Parrikar’s photos to do politics till Lok Sabha elections trying to whip up emotions. This way BJP has insulted both the cancer patient and also democracy. At least now BJP must get Parrikar to resign and get a new CM for Goa.

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Davanagere: Sri Rama Sene national president Pramod Muthalik has accused the state government of using the proposed Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill to target Hindus and to suppress Hindutva organisations and their leaders.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Muthalik said the Sene opposes the Bill. According to him, the government is bringing this legislation only to appease Muslim voters while selectively targeting Hindu voices.

He questioned whether it is wrong to speak against cow slaughter when the ban is already in force but violations still occur in many places. “Is it wrong to raise awareness among Hindus about love jihad? Is it wrong to oppose illegal construction of churches, mosques or encroachments on cremation grounds? Is objecting to religious conversions wrong?” he asked.

Muthalik alleged that the Bill attempts to silence anyone who questions or protests such issues. He said the move goes against the spirit of the Constitution framed by Dr B.R. Ambedkar and is aimed at weakening the Hindu community.

He urged BJP and JD(S) MLAs to strongly oppose the Bill in the upcoming session and ensure it does not get passed. The organisation will submit memorandums to all legislators and mount pressure, he added.

During the press meet, Muthalik tore copies of the Bill in protest. Leaders of Sri Rama Sene including Parashuram Nadavinamani, Yashavanth, Sridhar and Madhu were present.