NEW DELHI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has slammed protesters for shouting anti-Hindutva slogans during a rally in Panaji, warning that strict legal action will be taken against those attempting to disrupt communal harmony in the state.
Addressing reporters, Sawant stated that outsiders are deliberately trying to stir up communal tensions in Goa and called on the public and media to strongly condemn such behaviour. The controversy erupted after a video surfaced online showing activists from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) shouting “Hindutva Murdabad” slogans during a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
“I have seen the social media post. I have asked them to conduct the investigation. The required legal action would be taken against them,” Sawant told reporters in Panaji on Wednesday.
SAWANT WARNS OF STRICT ACTION OVER ‘HINDUTVA MURDABAD’ SLOGAN
CM Pramod Sawant said he has directed police to verify footage from Sunday's CJP protest at Azad Maidan, where protesters allegedly raised the slogan “Hindutva Murdabad”. He warned that strict action would be taken… pic.twitter.com/qdMIR2bCU7
— Goa News Hub (@goanewshub) October 14, 2026
He said that the attempts were being made to create communal disharmony. “The way I can see that the protestors were trying to create communal disharmony, you all should also see that,” Sawant told media persons, asking them to condemn such incidents.
Senior leaders, including BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Tanavade, have strongly condemned the demonstration.
“BJP led government is getting the mandate of the people everywhere. But these people want to create some kind of disturbances that is why these slogans are given,” Tanavade said.
TANAVADE ALLEGES ‘FUNDED PROTEST’ OVER ‘HINDUTVA MURDABAD’ SLOGAN
MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade questioned why protesters raised the “Hindutva Murdabad” slogan and covered their faces during the protest. He said he had never seen protesters hide their faces in the many protests he… pic.twitter.com/VnKdLSyhCQ
— Goa News Hub (@goanewshub) October 14, 2026
Tanavade questioned the hidden motives behind the protest, pointing out that while demonstrators claimed to gather over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, they instead resorted to provocative slogans while hiding their faces.
The protest, which took place near Azad Maidan in Panaji, was intercepted by authorities, leading to the detention of seven participants by the police. The state government has launched a full investigation into the social media footage and vowed that such disturbances will not be tolerated.
