Pics: Daya Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network-Bantwal (JD)
Bantwal, Oct 9: Activists of the Dakshina Kannada Dalit Seva Samiti staged a protest against the opening of bar and restaurant near the Shailanja Shri Kalabhairaveshwara temple in Balekody Math at Kanyana. They also tried to barge into the bar premises. The protesters were arrested by the Vitla police and later released on Saturday, October 8.
In reply to the request of Ravindra from Mangaluru, the Kanyana gram panchayat and excise department had given the permission to the bar and restaurant. But a protest was held against the bar in the leadership of Shashikanth Mani swamiji.
In spite of these developments, the bar began its operations on Friday. On Friday the taluk panchayat had even cancelled the bar permission. But paying no heed to all this, the bar owner opened the bar even on Saturday morning. The Dalit Seva Samiti members who got the information about this staged the protest once again.
Shashikanth Swamiji who addressed the protesters said, “This bar has hurt our religious sentiments and we have been pained by this. This Math is beyond the caste and creed and an attempt has been made to disrupt peace. Since this bar disturbs the religious sentiments, the government must intervene in the matter. it is highly intolerable and I am ready to give up the Math. Let the society choose between the Math and the bar.”
Dalit Seva Samiti district president speaking on the occasion said, “It is an attempt to disturb the Dalit community and our Math. No one opens a bar near the holy place of other religions.”
He later led the other activists to break the gate and barge into the bar premises. The police intervened the protesters and arrested them. Later they were released from the police custody.