Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Aug 26: Dakshina Kannada district Congress committee on Monday August 25 observed 'Satyagraha' condemning the Bajrang Dal for celebrating the death of Jnanpith awardee litterateur U R Ananthamurthy by bursting crackers in the city.

Addressing the Satyagraha at Gandhi Park in front of Town Hall here, district Congress intermin president Ibrahim Kodijal said, "Every religion preaches brotherhood and humanity. U R Anathamurthy was a great litterateur who immensely contributed to the field of literature. Celebrating the death of a great writer by organizations of the Sangha Parivar is showing disrespect to Hindu culture, to the Constitution and to the people of the nation. Congress will expose this truth before the people."

MLC Ivan D'Souza said, "BJP and Sangha Parivar used to give speeches on patriotism, but today they have created anti-national elements who celebrated the death of a renowned litterateur. People should contemplate who are the real patriots and who are pseudo patriots. Celebrating death shows the perverted minds of these anti-social elements. Their immoral act has put our district to shame."

"Police should invoke Goonda Act and exterminate these anti-social elements from the state. I will challenge the BJP that if they are really against this act they should get down to the streets and protest against the miscreants who performed this act. They declare themselves as patriots, instead they are pseudo nationalists. The Congress party and state government has taken this issue very seriously," he added.

MLA J R Lobo said, "U R Anathamurthy was a great litterateur who contributed to the field of literature. Anathamurthy was also known at the national and international levels. The party should condemn this act, irrespective of religion and caste. Ananthamurthy expressed his thoughts to society without any fear. His death is a great loss to the state as well to the nation. Thinkers and educated people should contemplate on what might be the psyche of those who celebrated the death of this writer. This shows their pervert mentality. Educated people should condemn this act."

Mayor Mahabala Marla said, "This act by a group of people has brought shame to Mangalore. U R Ananthamurthy has contributed immensely to the field of literature. Those who committed this act will never realize the worthiness of Anathamurthy. People of the district and the educated mass should condemn this immoral act."

Former MLA Vijayakumar Shetty said, "We should condemn this act of the Bajrang Dal. This ideology was also implemented at the death of Mahatma Gandhiji. People should understand this and condemn the act."

Deputy Mayor Kavitha, Kripa Alva, Padmanabha Narianga, B H Kadhar, A C Bhandary, Hilda Alva, Nazir Bajjal and several Congress leaders and party workers took part in this protest.

Prior to the protest, a garland was offered to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi; a floral respect was also offered to Litterateur U R Ananthamurthy.