Saffron groups take on scribe over 'anti-Hindu' comments

The Gomantak Mandir and Dhaarmik Sanstha Mahasangh (GMDSM) said it wanted an apology from Wagle over the remarks. “Denying the reality that 50 incidents of idol desecration have taken place in Goa in the last six years, Nikhil Wagle’s remark that ‘It is absolutely false that there have been attacks on Hindu temples in Goa’, is outrageous and anti-Hindu,” GMDSM said.

The right-wing group said since Wagle had failed to come up with an apology so far, a demonstration was being called for Friday. It had also written to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat asking that he “force” the IBN-Lokmat editor to apologise.

But many here have questioned the legitimacy of the GMDSM which has been convened by Jayesh Thali, a right-wing activist of the hardcore Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS). The HJS is closely linked to the Sanatan Sanstha which is being probed by the NIA for the October 2009 Margao blasts.