Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Sep 13: Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik on Sunday September 13 backed senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary over the issue of beef ban and said that if the union government is really concerned about protecting cows, it should ban export of beef.
Janardhand Poojary on Saturday September 12 had criticized the union government over the issue of ban on sale of meat in BJP-ruled states during the Jain festival of Paryushan and challenged the Modi-led government to ban export of beef.
Addressing a press meet at Scouts and Guides Bhavan in Moodushedde here, Muthalik lauded Poojary for his statement and said, "I support and welcome Janardhan Poojary's statement on ban on beef export. If the union government is really concerned about Go Mata, it should ban beef export. It will stop cow slaughter entirely.
"During the Lok Sabha election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said he was sad about the fact that India is the largest exporter of beef in the world, but after Modi came to power and after his world tour, beef export has increased by 10 percent. This is hypocrisy - before election he said one thing, but now he is doing something else.
"Seven states have already banned beef. I congratulate the high court of Jammu and Kashmir for taking this bold stand and I welcome its verdict," he added.
On the Chikkamagaluru Datta Peetha issue, he said, "Recently the Supreme Court asked the Karnataka state government to decide on the issue. We cannot accept this. The district and the high courts had already given their verdicts in favour of Hindus, but after the Muslim community approached the Supreme Court, the Apex Court should have given its final verdict instead of leaving it for the state government to decide.
"We do not have confidence in the state government, and we suspect that for the Muslim vote bank, the state government may say that Datta Peetha is Baba Budangiri. We will not give even a single inch of Datta Peetha land. If the state government is really concerned about secularism and if it wants communal harmony in the state, it should give Datta Peetha to Hindus and build Baba Budangiri dargah at Nagenahalli, which is 14 km away from Datta Peetha and has 2.32 acres of land. They can build the dargah there. If it is not done, we will continue our struggle for another 100 years," he said.
"To pressurise the state government we will hold Datta Mala Abhiyana on October 25 in which 5,000 Sri Rama Sene activists, 15 Naga Sadhus and five devotees of Lord Dattatreya will take part," he added.
Regarding the issue of Bangladeshi migrants, he said, "In Karnataka there are many Bangladeshi immigrants. They are coming in big numbers, and more so to coastal areas like Mangaluru. In Mangaluru itself there are a thousand Bangladeshis working in construction sites, security agencies and in agriculture or as coolies. They are snatching the bread of the labourers in this region. We will give memorandum to the deputy commissioner seeking strong action on this issue. If the government does not take any action, Sri Rama Sene has already planned to drive them out by ourselves. If they are not driven out now, in future they may resort to anti-social activities like terrorism and drugs. They are enemies of the country."
Asked how many Bangladeshi migrants have been identified by Sri Rama Sene in Mangaluru, he said, "According to our estimates, there are 700 Bangladeshis in Mangaluru. They are without any records or documents like identity card or Aadhaar card."
Asked if would support the protest against Yettinahole project, he replied, "I do not have proper information about it. Any project should be for the welfare of the people. The union government should implement a national water policy to solve disputes regarding water."
Asked to comment on the ban imposed on him in Goa, he said, "I am not a smuggler or in drug mafia. When drug mafia from Nigeria and Australia can come to Goa and spoil the atmosphere, why should I be banned?
"When Praveen Togadia was banned from entering Karnataka, BJP leader Eshwarappa had condemned the ban and remarked asking if Togadia was from Afghanistan or India. Even I am from India and not Afghanistan. Why is BJP showing double standards now?" he questioned.
On the murder of Prof M M Kalburgi in Dharwad recently, he said the police and the government are deliberately trying to put the blame on Hindu activists even though there could be many angles to the murder.
"Government is making efforts to put the (Kalburgi) murder case on Hindu activists. We are not so cheap to involve in murder. Let the CID investigate the case, truth will come out.
"Not only did Kalburgi criticize Hindu philosphy but also the Lingayat community. He also criticized Chenna Basavanna and Pancha Peetha. When he was in Hampi University he had many who opposed his views and there was land dispute too. This murder is an attempt to tarnish Hindu outfits. We are ready for any probe. We have already condemned this murder," he asserted.
SRS state chief secretary Praveen Valke, south regional convener Mahesh Koppa, state organizing secretary Gangadhar Kulkarni, south regional vice-president Kumar Malemar, divisional president Anand Adyar, district president Jeevan were present.