Congress asks BJP to ban Pramod Muthalik from attending Hindu meet

PANAJI: Opposition Congress today asked Manohar Parrikar government to ban the entry of controversial right-wing leader Pramod Muthalik in Goa, where he is supposed to attend a All India Hindu Convention on Friday, to avoid any communal tension.

"We demand that Muthalik be banned from entering the state. He has a habit of delivering speeches that can incite communal violence in the state," Congress spokesman Durgadas Kamat told reporters here.

He said Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar should invoke appropriate law against Muthalik, the chief of Sri Ram Sene, so as to prevent his entry in the coastal state.

The convention is slated to begin from June 20 at Ramnathi village, 30 km from here.

"During his last visit to Goa, Muthalik had delivered a speech asking Hindus to carry arms to protect the religion," Kamat said.

He alleged that even though a complaint was lodged against Muthalik at Panaji police station, the investigation officer concerned did not register it.