Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Dec 28: "Congress is a secular party with secular ideology and principles, hence it condemns instances of moral policing occurring in the district. Stringent action will be taken against communal forces that indulge in moral policing, irrespective of caste and creed. I have also discussed the matter with police officers and asked them to invoke Goonda Act against religious fundamental forces that indulge in moral policing. These communal activities cannot be tolerated," said district incharge minister Ramanath Rai.

He was addressing a press at the district Congress office here on Saturday December 28.
 
"Rumour mongers are the enemies of this country. Moral policing by minority communities spoils the image of their own community, and when majority community does it, the image of the entire country is affected," he added.

Condemning the incident wherein two students where kidnapped, forced to have sex and blackmailed at Deralakatte, Rai said, “It was an uncivilized act from goons. Police have taken proper measures and arrested them immediately. Yesterday I met various police officers and asked them to take stringent action against moral policing and communal activities irrespective of any caste, creed.
 
"During the home stay incident Sangh Parivar had defended the incident, but Congress is a party of secular agenda and we will never tolerate fundamental activities. If any police officer delays in taking action against these communal forces I will write to the home ministry. Home stay incident was a lapse in the system, as it took place in front of the police," he added.
 
When a journalist asked if the government had tried to reach out to the Deralakatte incident victims, Rai said, “Police have taken appropriate measures, moreover various Congress leaders as well as the party as a whole have condemned this brutal act. These kinds of incidents bring bad name to the district."