Stany Bela

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jul 26: Regular attacks on pubs, homestays, hotels and ice cream parlours in the city and its surroundings by anti-social elements has compelled the youths in the city to go to neighbouring districts and states to spend leisure hours. Being an educational and health hub, thousands of students and professionals choose Mangaluru for their better future. But the core issue of these professionals and students, both locals and outsiders, is their private life. The moral policing of some anti-social elements is always a hurdle for the privacy of these youngsters who live in the city.

"Once I was warned by a group of youths who claimed that they were the members of Bajrang Dal for having an ice-cream with my classmate in a known ice cream parlour. Hence I decided not to spend my leisure hours in the city. Now, once in a month, we few classmates go to Chikkamagaluru, Kannur or Karwar to spend our private time. We all are matured and know how to manage ourselves. We see many groups of professionals and students travelling to nearby cities to spend time with their close ones. But Mangaluru is not at all suitable for leisure activities," says a student pursuing masters on condition of anonymity.

"We have a team of seven doctors, four nurses and a lab technician. Apart from the lab technician, we all studied in a reputed medical college in Mangaluru and are now working for different hospitals. Once we gathered for a family get-together at a rented house which was hired by one of our members. But the house owner refused to rent the place to us fearing moral policing. At the last moment, we were forced to reschedule our programme. After that, we decided to move to Goa for our gatherings and personal treats," says Dr Gautam Nayar, who works in a private hospital in Mangaluru.

"I am from Mangaluru and I study in Hyderabad. It is my desire to explore my native language with my Hyderabad classmates. But no one is ready to visit Mangaluru because of moral policing stories of Mangaluru which they have read and seen here on the media. They are afraid to roam freely at the beaches and streets of Mangaluru,” says Akhila.

In the background of increasing moral policing in the city, Nagesh Kamath, the owner of a hotel in the city says, "Moral policing is a curse for a city like Mangaluru which is known for many good reasons. A large number of youths and professionals have already deviated from the city and found new destinations for weekend life. The resorts and homestays in Coorg, Chikkamagaluru, Karwar, Kasargod, Kannur and Goa take advantage and flourish their business with innovative and attractive ideas and offers. The tourism fraternity of the neighbouring districts and states are taking full advantage of moral policing situation here by making all arrangements for students and professionals from Mangaluru. They get all types of help from their administration and the police department.

“Moral policing and youths from the city leaving to other destinations, directly effects the business fraternity who run pubs, hotels, resorts, homestays, and others. No one bothers about our loss. We, the business houses, who follow the guidelines of the administration, never entertain any type of illegal activities. Nevertheless, we are getting targeted in the form of moral policing. There are many organizations in the city asking for regular ‘hafta’ with the threat of a firm in the name of morality. The police and administration should act against these anti-social elements. Otherwise, we will also be compelled to shift to other cities,” he said.

Following the recent attack on Recycle restaurant-cum-pub at Balmatta, the public opinion says that there is a need to carry out reforms in the criminal justice system, so that sensitivity and awareness about constitutional values can be imbibed in the administration. Public discussion and debates should be promoted in schools and colleges to create awareness and sensitization towards different moral policing. Finally, society should not entertain the fringe elements and so-called organizations who pose as protectors of religion and culture with moral policing and communal divide.