Goa CM rules out banning Sanatan Sanstha

The right-wing outfit has come under the scanner for the murder of rationalist Govind Pansare

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today ruled out banning Goa-based right-wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha, which has come under the scanner for the murder of rationalist Govind Pansare.

"Whatever is wrong is wrong. Just because there is suspicion on one person we cannot blame the organisation (Sanatan Sanstha) which he is associated with. It would be not be right to ban the entire organisation," he told reporters.

Sanatan activist Samir Gaikwad was arrested on September 16 from Sangli in Maharashtra in connection with Pansare's murder, following which Congress and the NCP had demanded an immediate ban on the hardline outfit.

"If the organisation itself had planned the crime, then the issue would have been different. The incident has happened in neighbouring state," Parsekar, who heads the BJP-led Government, said.

"Actually Maharashtra government should conduct a detailed investigation in the incident. Based on their report, we will take our stand on banning the organisation," he said.

Parsekar's statement comes a day after his own party legislator, Vishnu Wagh, sought ban on Sanstha, which has its headquarters at Ramnnathi in North Goa district.

Apart from arresting Gaikwad in connection with Pansare's killing earlier this year, the alleged role of absconding Sanstha member Rudra Patil in the 2009 Madgaon blast is also being probed.

Sanatan has ruled out its or Gaikwad's role in Pansare's murder.

82-year-old Pansare and his wife, Uma were shot at by two motorcycle-borne youths on February 16, 2015, near their home in Kolhapur. Pansare died four days later at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai while his wife survived the attack, suffering injuries that crippled her.