Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)
Mangaluru, Apr 15: "If a cow had been murdered in the place of RTI activist Vinayak Baliga, Mangaluru would have faced riots," said Prof Narendra Nayak, national president of Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations.
He was addressing a dharna staged in front of the DC's office here on Friday April 15 to urge the state government to nab all the accused in the murder of RTI activist Vinayak Baliga that took place on March 21. The protest was organized by 'Deshapremi Sanghatanegala Okkuta'.
Lashing out at right-wing outfits, Prof Nayak said, "It has been almost a month since the murder of Vinayak Baliga. None of the the activists of the right-wing outfits have raised their voice even though a Hindu was murdered. This indicates that the people associated with these outfits must have murdered Vinayak Baliga. They have the guts to attack couples but not to speak against this murder. If a cow had been murdered in the place of Vinayak Baliga, they would have come to streets and created riots in the city.
"Where is the MP (Nalin Kumar Kateel) of the district? It been a month, but the MP has still not visited Baliga's house. Baliga was a dedicated BJP worker and he had even worked for Nalin Kumar's victory. But Nalin has not said even a word of sympathy to Baliga's family.
"Except health minister U T Khader, none of the ministers have spoken against the absconding accused in the case. I feel all of them are associated with the absconding murderers. MLA J R Lobo visited Baliga's house and fooled us with crocodile tears. But even he has not spoken against the murderers," he claimed.
"Congress leader Janardhan Poojary has time to call press conferences and speak about each and everything. Even though his party is ruling the state, he does not have the time to speak for Baliga's family and urge for the arrest of the absconding accused," he added.
Prof Nayak further said, "Baliga had filed RTI petitions against more than a thousand buildings as they have been constructed illegally. He had filed a petition against Sharada Vidyalaya school building and the hearing was scheduled for March 24 in the MCC premises and he was murdered on March 21. He always objected the loot of assets in Shree Venkataramana Temple at Car Street. The ones who have looted the temple assets are behind his murder. "
Addressing all the people of the city, he said, "Even though it has been a month, people of the city have been keeping quiet. When our neighbour's house is burning we keep quiet stating it is his house. When the same fires engulfs our house, we say that none of the neighbours came to help us. Yesterday Baliga was murdered. Tomorrow it could be me, and tomorrow it could be any one of us.
"Baliga was murdered for raising his voice for a cause. Tomorrow any one of us could be murdered even though we are quiet like Gandhiji's three monkeys. Follow Swami Vivekananda's words and rise up to the cause of justice. All of us have to die one or the other day. It is better to die fighting than dying inch by inch everyday," he entreated.
DYFI district secretary Imtiaz, Baliga's father Ramachandra Baliga, mother Jayanthi Baliga, corporator Dayanand Shetty, Somanath Nayak from Nagarika Seva Trust and others were present.