Goa goes to the polls on May 30. Anti-communalism campaigners have been
showing the violence wreaked, allegedly with the complicity or involvement
of the Sangh Parivar. Many of the screenshots show victims blaming the BJP
and its allies for the violence.

In recent weeks, anti-communalism campaigners in Goa had taken forward the
drive to highlight the havoc caused by religious bigotry and intolerance in
Gujarat, and Congressmen apparently found this material just grist for their
party campaign mill, particularly in the minority areas of Goa.

Chief minister Parrikar, a self-acknowledged RSS member, came down hard on
those screening the video tapes on Gujarat, which he claimed was being done
with the intention of inciting communal violence in the state.

In another development, the Cuncolim police from South Goa speedily seized
the video cassettes at what they described as an "unauthorised meeting".
Officials charged that the no "prior permissions" has been taken for the
screening, and questioned whether the video "promotes communal tension" or
not.

Strangely, the films being shown in the state were by Delhi-based scientist
Gauhar Raza (45), whose 'Junoon ke Badhte Kadaam' (Evil Stalks The Land) is
his 12th in a series of films, with his earlier themes mainly centering
around science and technology.

Raza was also in town recently, and spoke emotionally about the impact of
the Gujarat violence, and its scale.

Another film that was brought here by anti-communalism campaigners was Gopal
Menon's film "Hey Ram: Genocide in the Land of Gandhi".

This too was speedily put-together due to the carnage in Gujarat, in the
fallout of the Godhra massacre.

"This is the usual case of those speaking the truth being labelled as the
perpetrators of the crime," said Front for Communal Harmony spokesperson
Vidhyadhar Gadgil.

Parrikar has warned that "such actions" could be viewed as an "attempt to
incite communal passions" and the guilty could be booked under Section
153(A) of the Penal Code.

BJP came to power by defections in Goa in October 2000, and Goa is the first
state to go to the polls after the Gujarat violence. This has cast its long
shadow over the state, though it is not clear who would benefit, since
regional factors will play a considerable role here too in the May 30
polls