Bangalore: Ram Sene men to burn pink chaddis
Times of India
Bangalore / Hubli, Feb 16: The pink chaddis that became tools of non-violent resistance against moral policing will soon be burnt. The Sri Ram Sene wants to burn these embarrassing Valentine's Day gifts at a public place on Monday.
"Some of our members are still in police custody. We will organize a public event once all are out," Sene spokesman Krishna Gandaghalekar said on Sunday. "Sending these chaddis to the leader of a patriotic organization is like insulting him. We will give a fitting reply by burning them."
Gandaghalekar expects Sene leader Pramod Mutalik, now in the custody of the Gulbarga police, to be released by then and lead the protest.
The Sene office remained locked for the third day on Sunday and no one could receive parcels of chaddis which were still coming in.
"Some parcels should be pending with courier companies. We will burn them too," Gandaghalekar said.
The Sene has changed its plans about the underwear three times in the last few days. First its leaders said these would be sent to an orphanage.
Later, they said the parcels would be returned to the parents of the girls who had sent them. Then they said the parcels would be publicly auctioned. But on Sunday, they confirmed they'll burn them.
Meanwhile, stung by the bad press that his government got over the last few weeks on moral policing, Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa gave vent to his displeasure at a public function on Sunday. "Is it a crime to talk about religion? Is it a crime to infuse patriotism in young minds?" he asked, while addressing a function of Sri Degula Mutt of Kanakapura in Ramnagaram district.