Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Mar 16: Senior journalist Naveen Soorinje on Monday called for a collective front comprising litterateurs, writers, activists, and journalists to highlight government failures and work toward rebuilding a progressive society.

He was speaking at a public meeting organized by the DYFI Kuttar Battedadi unit as part of the Com Yogish Kuthar Stage conference.

Ideological battle against communalism

Addressing the gathering, Soorinje stated that left-wing organizations like the DYFI have consistently worked to expose the hidden agendas behind communal riots and struggles in Dakshina Kannada. He pointed out that during the implementation of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ), it was the left-wing groups that fought for farmers' land rights and local employment.

 

"While some groups focus on renaming Mangaluru, they fail to address the core survival issues of the coastal people. Migration is rampant in our region—whether to Mumbai’s hotel industry or abroad—and it is simply another form of the displacement seen in North Karnataka," he remarked. He also noted that even the current government has failed to take seriously the warnings of Minister Priyank Kharge regarding the lack of investment in the coast due to communal tensions.

Critical view of Hindutva and legal hurdles

Reflecting on his time in prison, Soorinje observed that the majority of inmates were youth from backward classes arrested for hate speech or in the name of Hindutva, while the upper echelons remained unaffected. He argued that while the Land Reforms Act brought equality to backward classes, subsequent strategies were used to keep these communities away from commercial and educational growth by engaging them merely as volunteers for temple festivals and cleaning tasks.

He expressed frustration over the legal process regarding hate speech. "Since 2023, several cases of hate speech involving figures like Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat have seen stay orders from the High Court. Despite having a battery of government advocates, the Siddaramaiah government has not shown enough intent to vacate these stays," he alleged.

Call for renewed activism

Soorinje also touched upon the Dharmasthala cases, stating that while SITs were formed, notices were often issued to the complainants rather than the accused. He revealed that 74 such cases have been compiled into a PIL filed in the High Court, with a positive outcome expected shortly.

Recalling a time when journalists lived in Naxal-affected areas to understand rural hardships, he urged a return to such grounded study camps. "Earlier, the government would tremble when writers and activists spoke up against its flaws. Today, that pressure is missing because we are not united. It is time for writers, activists, and journalists to join hands once again," he concluded.

The event saw the participation of DYFI district secretary Santosh Bajal, Ullal taluk secretary Rizwan Harekala, and district leader Sunil Tevula, among others.