Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik on Sunday expressed gratitude to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for lifting the ban on his entry into the state, which had been in place for over 10 years. Speaking publicly in Goa for the first time in more than a decade, Muthalik said, “For the last 10 years, there was a ban (on Muthalik entering Goa). Abhi mukt ho gya hun (I am free now). The ban has been lifted due to the graciousness of the Chief Minister. I want to thank him. I met him yesterday. I told him that it is because of his courtesy that I got the opportunity to visit.”

Muthalik’s first public appearance in Goa coincided with the ‘Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav’, organized by the Goa-based Sanatan Sanstha to commemorate the 83rd birthday of the group’s founder, Jayant Athavale, as well as the group’s silver jubilee. CM Sawant attended the opening ceremony of the three-day event on Saturday.

Regarding the origin of the ban, Muthalik said, “Yehi sarkar thi (It was the same government that imposed the ban). In their view, there may have been a wrong opinion about my personality, which is why the ban was enforced at the time.”

The controversial leader of Sri Ram Sene first came under scrutiny for moral policing after leading a group that attacked men and women visiting a pub in Mangaluru in 2009, alleging they were violating traditional Indian values. Following this, the Congress-led Goa government issued a notification banning the entry of Muthalik and his associates into the state in 2009.

The ban was reinstated in August 2014 during the tenure of BJP Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar after Muthalik announced plans to establish his outfit in Goa, aiming to “fight against drug, alcohol and pub culture” in the state. Police reports at the time warned that Muthalik’s entry could cause law and order problems and disturb peace and harmony, leading to fear among the public.

For over a decade, successive district magistrates in Goa extended the ban every few months. However, this year the ban lapsed and was not renewed. In March, Muthalik entered Goa and visited former Goa RSS chief-turned-rebel Subhash Velingkar at his home in Panaji.

Muthalik’s visit and the lifting of the ban mark a significant moment for the Sri Ram Sene chief, who has been a polarizing figure in Goa and other states for his aggressive moral policing and social activism.

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