Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru Feb 21: The Sangh Parivar led by the RSS has called for a district-wide bandh on Saturday February 25 in protest against the participation of Kerala chief minister Pinarari Vijayan in the CPI(M) communal harmony march planned in the city on that day.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Sangh Parivar on Tuesday February 21 at Sangha Niketan here.
Moreoever, the Sangh Parivar will also hold a massive protest on Friday February 24 with a march from Dr Ambedkar circle to Nehru Maidan.
Meanwhile, in a press meet, the district Sri Rama Sena too opposed Kerala chief minister speaking at the rally and extended full support to the bandh called by the VHP.
Addressing the media at Arya Samaj here on Tuesday, Sri Rama Sene president Anand Shetty Adyar said, "The CPI(M) is set to organise public communal harmony on Febrauary 25. Since 1999 Kerala has witnessed over 200 murders of Hindus for which CPI(M) is directly responsible. We do not have any problem in Pinarayi Vijayan coming to Mangaluru, but we strongly oppose him delivering a speech during the programme.
"In the name of communal harmony rally, Pinarayi Vijayan will definitely try to create communal unrest in the district. When Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik has been banned from attending programmes and delivering speeches for the past 5 years, on what basis was Pinarayi Vijayan permitted to attend the programme and deliver speech? Vijayan's constituency has witnessed a series of murders and he belongs to the CPI(M) which is well-known for eliminating rivals," he said.
"We also extend support to the bandh called by the Sangh Parivar against the communal harmony rally. When Pramod Muthalik delivers speech, it is labelled as 'provocative', but he has not delivered any kind of provocative speeches. If Pinarayi Vijayan is allowed to speak publicly, even Pramod Muthalik should be allowed to deliver speeches. Why is there so much bias?" he questioned.
"We would not have interfered if it was a political convention by CPI(M). It is not neccessary for the people of Dakshina Kannada to lend an ear to a communal harmony speech by Pinarayi Vijayan," he added.
When asked why the SRS was silent on Vinayak Baliga and other murder cases in the district, he said, "We raised our voice even against Vinayak Baliga murder. However, the murder was committed out of personal enmity."
Sri Rama Sene vice-president Jeevan Neermarga, secretary Guru, Pradeep, Harish and Venkatesh were present.
DYFI condemns bandh by Sangh Parivar, to extend full support to CPI(M) rally
Meanwhile, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) condemned the bandh called by the Sangh Parivar and extended full-fledged support to the public communal harmony rally organized by the CPI-M.
Addressing media persons here at Hotel Woodland here on Tuesday, DYFI district president Muneer Katipalla said, "District CPI(M) is all set to organise communal harmony rally on February 25 with the intention of fostering unity among all religions in the district.
"People of Dakshina Kannada are known for living in harmony. But the recent developments in the district have not been good, where Sangh Parivar and other social evils are trying to create communal violence and also rift between the religions for political gains. Today we have reached a situation where Hindus and Muslims look at each other with suspicion," he said.
"The main purpose of this rally is to raise voice against communalism. CPI(M) has been actively involved in protesting against communal hate mongers, hence I also urge youngsters to extend their full support to the rally irrespective of religion.
"Sangh Parivar has called for a bandh and also threatened to disrupt the programme, which is totally wrong. We do nott have any problem with their protest, but they do not have the right to interrupt the program or call for bandh.
"During former CM Yeddyurappa’s tenure it was proved that he was one of the most corrupt ministers, for which he was behind the bars. Now Yeddyurappa is the state president of BJP and he visits other places, but no one interrupts his visits. So also chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Vasundhara Raje who are tainted and yet they move freely without any problem.
"MP Nalin Kumar Kateel visited Kerala where he received a warm welcome. During Narendra Modi's tenure as chief minister, Gujarat witnessed riots which claimed over 2,000 lives and yet no one disrupts his public programmes," he said.
He also alleged, "BJP, Sangh Parivar and RSS are directly involved in the murder of Vinayak Baliga, Praveen Poojary, and Pratap Maroli, but none of them raised a voice to nab the culprits. In Kerala over 200 DYFI and CPI(M) representatives were murdered by RSS out of which 95% were Hindus.
"We also request the police department to provide security for the programme," he concluded.
DYFI vice-president B K Imthiyaz, Naveen Konchady, Sadiq Kannur and Santhosh Bajal were present.