Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, May 30: "The killing of Kabeer by ANF personnel was a joint operation by the Sangh Parivar and the ANF. Kabeer was killed intentionally as he was transporting cattle and because he was a Muslim," alleged K L Ashok, state secretary of Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike (KKSV).
He was addressing a protest meet organized by Komu Souharda Vedike and other like-minded organizations against the death of Kabeer, a cattle trader and resident of Suratkal who was shot dead by ANF personnel at Sringeri on April 19. The protestors took out a rally from Dr Ambedkar circle to DC's office prior to the meet.
"The family members of Kabeer were attacked by the members of Sangh Parivar and Bajrang Dal. Cattle traders have to give hafta to police as well as to Bajrang Dal. This incident should be condemned by everyone as an innocent was killed," Ashok further said.
"MLAs C T Ravi and Sunil Kumar are defending the ANF's action and saying that hundreds of Naveen Naiks (ANF trooper who shot Kabeer) should be born to kill persons like Kabeer. It is against the Constitution. They are constitutionally unfit to be MLAs. If Akbaruddin Owaisi can be arrested for hate speech, the Prabhakar Bhat, C T Ravi and Sunil Kumar too should be arrested. The law is equal for all, inuding for the Prime Minister. Though they have indulged in hate speeches, Congress has not taken any action against them," he added.
"Presently we are facing a difficult stuation. Though the Congress government is ruling in the state, ministers U T Khadar and Ramanath Rai have failed to arrest the hate mongers. Attacks on Dalits and minorities have been going on from the last few years. If Sangh Parivar can send its agents to the Army, it would not be difficult for it to send them into ANF too," he said.
"The RSS ideology is fascist. But even when cow dung was smeared on our leader (Suresh Bhat Bakrabail) we did not lose our spirit. We will fight and expose their genocides and fascism. The government should immediately arrest C T Ravi and Sunil Kumar under People's Representation Act," he said.
Mohammed Kunhi, state joint secretary of Jamath-e-Islami Hind said, "Such incidents should not repeat in future. This is unlawful killing and we have gathered here to protest against injustice. Demanding justice is our fundamental right.
"Even if there are criminal cases against individuals, no one has the right to kill anyone. Presently, there are 250 MPs who face serious criminal cases. We should be united and fight against injustice. The state government is sleeping," he said.
Fr William Martis from Udupi said, "Our country started going through an eclipse from May 17. Kabeer was killed only because he was a Muslim. BJP does not want Muslims, it only wants their votes. Many Muslims have contributed to building this nation. Great leaders like Janardhan Poojary and J P Hegde lost the elections not because of Modi wave but because of caste politics."
Shafi Bellare, PFI Puttur president and Ali Hasan, president of Meat Vendors' Association also spoke on the occasion.
Ismath Pajeer of KSSV compered the programme. Poet Jyothi Guruprasad inaugurated the protest rally. During the meet, a minute's silence was observed in memory of advocate Purushottam Poojary who recently passed away.
On this occasion P B D'Sa, Vasudev Bolar, G Rajashekar and others were present.
A memorandum was submitted to the chief minister through the DC.