Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Apr 16: Firebrand chief of Sri Rama Sene Pramod Muthalik has been banned from attending a programme in the city on Saturday April 16, according to an order issued by city police commissioner Chandra Sekhar.

Muthalik was in the city on Saturday to attend a hearing in the 2009 pub attack case. Later in the evening, he was supposed to take part in the 14th annual Samoohika Shaneeshwara puja in Alape.

However, in view of law and order and to prevent Muthalik from making provocative speech during the programme, the police commissioner banned him from 'attending, participating or delivering speech at any public meeting/function directly or through audio-visual or any other media' for a period of seven days, that is from April 16 to April 22, under section 144 of CrPC.

"Pramod Muthalik is known for his provocative and inflammatory speeches which have led to and influenced violent events like the Mangalore pub attack. Also, at many places his specches have led to communal disturbances. In spite of the strong resentment against his provocative speeches from the learned public, he continues to make such speeches. More than 25 cases have been registered against him across the state," the police order states, giving details of some of the cases and explaining the situations in various places where he had been either banned or arrested.

The police commissioner stated in his order that banning Muthalik from delivering a speech at the programme would prevent disturbance of public tranquility. He also pointed out that though the puja organizers had sought permission for the programme and police protection, they did not disclose that Muthalik would be the keynote speaker at this programme. The information about his participation was gathered from news items and flex boards, Chandra Sekhar said.

Sources also said that the police have filed a writ in the court seeking Muthalik's arrest.

"Anti-Hindu policy"

Slamming the ban order, Muthalik told reporters in the city, "It is very cleary that there is an anti-Hindu policy. Three persons of pro-Hindu organizations, namely Prashant Poojary, Kuttappa and Raju in Mysuru have been murdered in the recent months. Moreover, I have been banned from eight places across the state. Hindu Janajagurti Samiti convenor Jagadish Karanth has been banned from attending Rama Navami celebrations in Puttur. Altogether, it is very clear that there is a conspiracy to suppress Hindus," he said.

"What Congress had been doing while in power at the centre for 10 years, the same thing the Karnataka Congress government is doing now. Because of such anti-Hindu policy, Congress was decimated in the last general elections and now the Congress government will also face similar fate. It is foolish on the past of the state government to follow such anti-Hindu policy. I strongly condemn this.

"Today I came to Mangaluru for the hearing on pub attack case. A writ has been filed in the court to ban me from attending a programme stating that I would make inflammatory speech, and that my bail should be cancelled. This is utterly foolish. Did they get a dream that I would make an inflammatory speech this evening? I had 90 cases against me, but I have been acquitted in most of them and now there are only 13 cases, which means even the court respects me and has given me justice.

"Cases of provocative speeches against me are politically motivated. The government is doing this out of its policy to suppress Hindus, and even the court has taken note of this. I will challenge the ban order on me in the high court. It is against the Constitution and freedom of expression and will file a writ petition in the court," he added.