Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, May 13: After the GSB Hitharakshana Vedike held a meeting at Konchady Temple, a branch of Kashi Math Samsthana on Monday May 9, the family members of Vinayak Baliga addressing the press meet at their residence on Friday, may 13.

Usha, one of the sisters of slain Vinayak Baliga said in the press meet. " Ratnakar Kamath, Kota Sridhar Kamath , Bengaluru Narayana Shenoy, Kundapur Radhakrishna Shenoy, Narasimha Acharya priest of Mangaluru Venakatramana Temple, Marooru Padmanabha Pai and others were present in the meeting held at Konchady temple on May 9. After 'symbolically' condoling Vinayak Baliga's murder, G Ratnakar Kamath told that said family members should not involve with 'Dushta Shakthi' (evil powers) and should not drag the name of Kashi Math. Pandith Narasimha Acharya said that there is no connection between the murder of Vinayak Baliga and temple administration. 'There are no irregularities in the administration. The account details are perfect. I was the secretary during the renovation' he said in the meeting,"

“Though it is one and half months after the murder of Vinayak Baliga, GSB Hitharakshana Vedike or any other organizations did not come to condole Vinayak’s death. We have not spoken any words against Kashi Math. We are demanding justice for the murder of my brother who is devotee of Lord Venakatramana and a member of GSB community. As we were told about 'Dushta Shakthi', we want know that who they are” she added.

Rationalist Prof Narendra Nayak said “We will continue our struggle till we get justice. If the arrest of the accused is not made, we will also hold protest in Bengaluru."

An open letter to the GSB community written by Prof Narendra Nayak was revealed in the meeting.

On this occasion advocate Vasudev Rao, Santhosh Bajal of DYFI, Shwetha Pai, Raghu Yekkar leader of DSS and Devdas of DSS and others were present.

Part of the open letter is as follows:

Open letter to the so called ‘leaders’ of the GSB community

The GSBs are a hard working intelligent, enterprising community. Having been subject to innumerable migrations and displacements, the most recent one being four centuries ago from Goa they have learnt to adapt to surroundings and thrive under even hostile conditions. Though I am not a religious or even practicing GSB my parents were born in that community.
The recent brutal murder of Vinayak Baliga on the March 21 brought me into the picture as there were many needles of suspicion pointing at some of the community being behind the murder and the professional killers being appointed by them.

I have also come to know that there have been proposals to take to the streets to protest. It would be wonderful to do that. That would bring the issue to the attention of more and more people. I do hope that you would organize a meeting or a protest or hand over some memorandum to the administration for speedy justice for Vinayak Baliga instead of trying to protest the due process of law. If you are truly interested in the welfare of the GSB community, you would do that than protest imagined attacks on the community. Remember that you the so called leaders of the community are being questioned and that is not an attack on the community. Though, the huge majority of the community are silent as of now, the seething resentment against the injustice done to Vinayak Baliga will erupt sooner or later. When the flood hits lots of deadwood will be swept away. All your efforts to ‘protect’ the interests of the community against the attacks are self proclaimed grievances.

I have almost never involved myself in the affairs of the community so far. But, when there is a murder and people try to support the accused than the victim it would be a crime to remain silent. In my four decades of public life, I have taken up many issues and fought many battles. I should say this is the first time that I have had to take on the so called leaders of the GSB community. I would welcome any of you to a debate at a public place or a TV channel to discuss these issues.

I want justice for Vinayak Baliga and whoever that may be behind the crime face trial for the dastardly crime that has been committed.