PONDA: Hours after the release of his social media post criticising the government over its one-time financial assistance to artistes left jobless due to the pandemic, well-known theatre personality and social media influencer, Rajdeep Naik’s car was vandalised on Saturday. The incident has evoked angry reactions.
The car’s rear windshield was smashed while it was parked near his residence at Savoi Verem in Ponda taluka. Naik filed a police complaint on Sunday.
On Saturday, through a video, Naik had demanded that the Rs 10,000, which the government had announced as one-time financial assistance for artistes, should be scrapped as it was an insult to the community. He said that artistes have been jobless since March 2020 and that no effort had been made by the government to support them. “Will they be able to sustain their families on the meagre OTS amount?” said Naik, who has gained popularity for the satirical videos he posts on social issues.
In the video, he has said that a representation signed by more than 150 artistes had been submitted to the minister for art and culture seeking some kind of relief. Even temporary jobs of any type were sought, Naik said.
Opposition leader Digambar Kamat demanded strict action against the culprits. “Attack on car of popular Goan actor Rajdeep Naik who criticised #BJP4Goa government’s apathy to support the artist community is a direct reflection of undeclared emergency imposed in Goa to suppress the Voice of Dissent. I demand @DGP-Goa must act & take strict action on attackers,” he tweeted
Condemning the “dastardly attack”, GFP chief Vijai Sardesai tweeted, “Goons are let loose to intimidate and silence anyone who questions @BJP4Goa’s arrogance and autocracy. End the#intolerance.”
