Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Aug 21: Preparations are going on secretly, under the leadership of BJP MLAs of Mangaluru, to legally rename the junction of communally sensitive area of the city after Savarkar.
All preparations are underway to rename Suratkal junction as Savarkar Junction. This has been proposed in the council meeting of MCC also. This was proposed last year by MLA Dr Bharath Kumar Shetty. In the midst of opposition the proposal was passed in the council. Now the proposal is with the standing committee of the MCC. It will be sent to government for approval within few days. Once approved plans are made to rename Suratkal Junction as Savarkar junction. There is fear that Suratkal, which was tense after the murder of FAzil, will become a stage for another friction.
Responding on the subject, MLA Dr Bharath Shetty said, “Local corporators had proposed to rename Suratkal junction as Savarkar junction. Many hindu organizations including Bajrang Dal and HJV had appealed to me for the same. I sent a proposal for the same to MCC on my letterhead. It was presented in the council legally and passed. Now it is with the standing committee of the MCC. Later, after getting passed by the standing committee, it will be presented to the government and again get passed in the council. Congress and SDPI had vehemently opposed this proposal in the council.”
Shetty further said, “We do not know why Congress and SDPI are opposing the renaming. Definitely no one can bring a stay on the matter of renaming a junction. According to law, it is the name of a freedom fighter. Siddaramaiah is speaking about Muslim areas. Through statements of this kind, he is provoking.
He said, "There should not be any issue in renaming the junction after a freedom fighter. Our government has prevented any communal violence. We will not allow riots to happen. Leaders of the party are supporting this matter as it is a noble deed. They say that this will give information about Savarkar to general public. We will rename Suratkal junction as Savarkar junction, come what may.”