Alemao jumps on anti-censor bandwagon in Goa

MARGAO: Strongly opposing any moves by the government to have a censor board for tiatrs, former PWD minister Churchill Alemao said that tiatr, apart from being Goa’s identity, was also an “identity of Konkani’s Roman script.”
Any attempt towards censoring this form of theatre art would only lead to the loss of whatever identity that has remained of the Konkani language, Alemao said while addressing media persons on Monday.
Stating that political satire was an inherent characteristic of a tiatr, Alemao saw no reason for politicians to get “unduly” upset over them being portrayed in poor light in the khell-tiatrs.
“In my lifetime, many kantars (songs in the tiatr) have been sung targeting me, some even wishing death for me and my brother. But I took those in the right spirit and never filed any (defamation) case (in the court) against them. Viewers will not enjoy a tiatr if it doesn’t contain any criticism against a politician. But why should politicians take offence over this? They feel offended possibly because they are guilty of their sins. I have done no wrong, and so I never felt offended,” Alemao said.
“File a case if you must, but don’t censor their plays. It will only lead to a rift between communities in the state,” Alemao added.
Speaking further, Alemao reiterated his objections over holding zilla panchayat elections on party lines. Stating that such a move would polarize the villagers based on political allegiance, Alemao warned the government against going ahead with its plans.