Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Feb 19: Social worker Veronica Cornelio has expressed anguish about the behaviour of MLAs Vedavyas Kamath and Bharath Shetty in the recent controversy at St Gerosa School, Mangaluru.

“MLA Vedavyas Kamath used innocent school children outside the school to protest and persuaded them to shout slogans outside the gate of the school, making an excuse of the incident that occurred inside the school. It is condemnable. His actions, forgetting that he is an MLA, have made civilized society bow its head in shame. An MLA has several responsibilities. He acted forgetting that an MLA who has the responsibility in the creation of law is not confined to a party or a religion,” she said.

“He could have gone directly inside the school after the untoward incident, obtained details, and solved it. Alternatively, he could have directed an inquiry and taken action based on its outcome. He stood outside the school, even after the requests by school authorities for him to come inside, and persuaded the children to protest. It is below his prestige,” she said.

Every community commends the service of Christian communities and Christian nuns. It is well known that they have provided value-based education to every child. It is regrettable that MLA Bharath Shetty called on deserting Christian educational institutions. He is not fit to continue in his position after such statements. Such developments have made us suspect the direction to which our society heads,” she said.

“It is sad that religion is being mixed in everything these days. It is clear that politics is the cause of it. There are questions if our children will be good citizens if the trend continues. We too can protest after such incidents. But the Christian community wants peace and bows its head to justice and the constitution. Now that investigating officers are appointed with regard to the incident, there should be suitable action against the guilty based on its outcome,” she urged.