Mangalore: Sowjanya case - CPI(M) slams govt, calls for probe into other cases

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Nov 26: “Right to life is a fundamental right provided by the Indian Constitution. In the case of Sowjanya, her life was targeted and she was barbarically raped and killed. When a right is violated, it is the duty of the individual to agitate. No one has the right to curb the fundamental rights of another individual. And it is the duty of a civilized government to protect the rights of an individual," said Basudeb Acharia, MP, Communist Party of India (M).

He was addressing the mass protest campaign organized by CPI (M) Dakshina Kannada district near DC's office here on Tuesday November 26 demanding justice in Sowjanya’s rape and murder case and a CBI inquiry into all other mysterious deaths. The campaign was a merging of twin padayatras of the CPI (M) from Dharmasthala and Sullia.

"Even after 66 years of Indian Independence, the feudal system still prevails. It seems like we are in the 16th or 17th century and not in the 21st century with regard to the case of Sowjanya. The government is patting capitalists instead of providing justice to victims like Sowjanya. These feudal lords can do whatever they want, they can grab anyone’s land, suppress the people, and act as a separate state in this country. This type of barbaric, uncivilized, inhuman activity still prevails in civilized society. Can such uncivilized activities be allowed in this civilized society?” he lashed out.

“What was the state government doing after the gruesome death of the girl? What role has it played in apprehending the culprits? What has the district administration or the police done to provide justice to the victim?  Except for CPI(M) why have no other political parties come forward to demand justice? This is not an issue of Karnataka but of the whole nation. We don’t want sympathy but only justice for the girl. The government took one year to hand over Sowjanya’s case to the CBI. Only after protests by CPI (M) and other organizations did the government agree to hand over Sowjanya’s case to the CBI. We will continue the struggle till we get justice,” added Acharia.

U Vasuki, national secretary, All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), said, “There is no ‘Dharma’ in Dharmasthala; the police and the administration have remained mute spectators. The government and the police department, instead of cracking the mystery behind 450 unnatural deaths, is protecting the culprits. In the case of Sowjanya, they have arrested a mentally unsound person. It is a diversionary tactic used to escape prosecution. Sowjanya’s rape and murder case may be just a case number for the  police, but for the victim’s family it was about their daughter. Sowjanya had her own dreams and aspirations. We want to know the truth and see justice being done.”

Vasuki added, “Being a temple head, the Dharamadikari has to provide justice and solace to people. What justice can he give to Sowjanya and her family? Why have the 450 unnatural deaths not come to his notice? Various parties have their own party flag but their true colours came to be known in the case of Sowjanya. Political parties should have some principles. Congress and BJP are the same; it does not make much difference for either... Yes, we Communists don’t believe in God but we respect those who believe in God. Government has land to provide to capitalists and SEZs but they don’t have land to provide to the poor.”

On this occasion, S Shankarappa, renowned advocate, and Sriram Reddy, Karnataka state secretary of CPI(M), also spoke.

B Madhava, Dakshina Kannada district secretary of CPI(M), K R Shreyan, Dr Harale, Kusumavathi, Athradi Amrutha Shetty, and B M Bhat  were present on the occasion. Bhat presented the keynote address while Sunil Kumar Bajal compered.   

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