Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Oct 8: The United Muslim Organization (UMO), DK district, along with various other Muslim organizations on Thursday October 8 held a strong protest against Sangh Parivar leaders who were exposed in the recent Cobrapost sting operation which claimed that BJP and right-wing outfits use violence to 'rescue' Hindu girls from 'love Jihad'. The protest was held near the DC's office here.
Addressing the protest, president of UMO and former mayor Ashraf said, "Various incidents of communal riots have taken place in the district. Now 'love Jihad' has been fabricated as a strategy by the Sangh Parivar to spark communal violence in the district. Cases were filed against innocent Muslims in various instances.
"These three leaders of BJP and Sangh Parivar (MLC Ganesh Karnik, Jagadish Shenava and Srikar Prabhu who were interviewed in the sting operation) cannot be called leaders - they have stooped to a very low level. Neither the police department nor anyone else is taking any action against them though they have confessed to such acts," he said.
Slamming Capt Ganesh Karnik over his claim that 60 percent of the police force is made up of RSS workers, Ashraf said, "When Muslim youths go to police stations to file complaints, some officers use abusive language. Now it is clear that RSS workers are part of the police department. The administration should take legal action on this. Let this be a warning to the government.
"Cases filed against innocent Muslim youths should be withdrawn. Mangaluru is going to be a Smart City - first let it be made a peaceful city. File a case against the three leaders of Sangh Parivar and send them to jail. Police officials who are from RSS should be sent to other districts and only good police personnel should be hired here. We will not stop our protest till legal action is not taken," he asserted.
UDF leader Rafiuddin Kudroli said, "No matter which government has come to power, it has failed to respond to the Muslim community. There are 15 percent Muslims in the state. It is very difficult to live in this atmosphere of polarisation. The media too is promoting fascist and Nazi tendencies.
"Only 34 percent of the nation has voted for the BJP. Islam propogates truth and peace. Faith cannot be destroyed by any fascist powers. Love Jihad has been fabricated by the Sangh Parivar to create communal riots and for political gains," he added.
"Ministers in the state and political representatives should curb these communal forces, or the such forces will destroy them. The Congress government will face the same fate as it did in UP and Bihar if it does not take concrete action. The government should file a case against those shown in the sting operation under terror acts and send them to jail on non-bailable charges," he demanded.
Making veiled references to district incharge minister Ramanath Rai and health minister U T Khader, he said,"They have failed to use their powers and are silent on this issue. I urge them to raise the issue in the Assembly. Ever since the formation of the Sangh Parivar, dalits and minorities have been treated as second rate citizens in the country."
Member of All India Muslim Council Jafar Siddique Faizi said, "The situation is such that we cannot say if there is any government in power or not. Sangh Parivar has fabricated 'love Jihad' to fulfil its agenda of Hindu Rashtra. No action has been taken against the three Mangaluru leaders shown in the sting operation. They should be arrested and sent away to some other district. The system could not arrest Prabhakar Bhat for making provocative speeches.
"MLAs and Ramanath Rai should raise this issue in the Assmebly. I do not know why they fear the Sangh Parivar. What value does the government have if it can't respond to such issues? The government should identity the RSS workers in government offices and cleanse them. The chief minister should hold a public grievances meeting in the district along with MLAs and ministers," he said.
PFI state secretary Shafi Bellare said, "RSS is a drama company and one more of its drama has been exposed. When there were bomb explosions in various parts of the country, cases were filed against innocent Muslims. After Malegaon and Samjhauta Express blasts, the true face of the right-wing was exposed. Sangh Parivar is creating these types of riots and polarizing Hindus and Muslims for political gains. Today it has also been revealed that love Jihad was fabricated by the Sangh Parivar. Why are the government and the police fearing them?
"They (Sangh Parivar leaders) are talking about protection of Hindu dharma and Hindu women, but in the sting they have admitted to have have even given supari to kill a woman. When we went to police station to file complaint against Kalladka Bhat, the inspector asked us as to translate his speech from Tulu. Now it is clear that some percentage of RSS workers are in the police department. All the cases in the name of love Jihad are false and government should withdraw them. The government should probe and clean the system.
"RSS is a threat not only to Muslims but also to the entire nation, even to Hindu dharma and Hindu girls. This is an agenda for politcal gains. Even the Hindu girls fear the jobless goons. All secular forces must unite to free the nation of RSS," he urged.
Syed Ismail of Jamaat-e-Islam also spoke on the occasion, alleging that multi-national companies with their hidden agendas were using the government to create problems in the district.