Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (AK)
Mangalore, November 18: ‘Brihat Sadbhavana Samavesha’, a week-long programme to be observed all over the State was inaugurated under the auspices of the Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike (Karnataka Communal Harmony Forum) on Saturday, November 18, at the Veera Rani Abbaka Auditorium, Shanti Nilaya, Balmatta.
Teesta Setalvad, Editor of ‘Communalism Combat’ and a renowned fighter for Human Rights from Mumbai, inaugurated the programme by releasing a book ‘Mangaloorinalli Nadeyuttiruvdenu?’ (What's been happening in Mangalore?)
Addressing the gathering, Teesta Setalvad said that secularism is not something that came out of the Constitution for India. People have been living in harmony for centuries together and that is why India is multicultural. She pointed out that the political parties which shout slogans against communalism are equally responsible for the sufferings as much as the ones who cause them.
Setalvad disclosed that like Gujarat, the Mangalore riots were planned and prepared. She stressed that long-term preparations are an important feature of such communal agenda. She warned that being alert is the need of the hour. She gave a call to the people to fight against those forces socially, economically and politically as well.
She appealed to the masses to protest and take action against those newspapers and media that spread hatred and which she claimed to be the mouthpieces of communal political powers.
Teesta Setalvad was of the opinion that the Mangalore Violence issue be brought to light in the Parliament. She added that a relentless effort has to be made, for otherwise, the political and communal powers will resume their campaigns.
A short film ‘Gomukhada Hinde…’ (Behind the Mask of Innocuousness) was screened on the occasion. The formal release of the film was done by Vinay Kumar Sorake, Former M L A, Udupi.
M Venkataswamy, President, Samatha Sainik Dal, Karnataka Unit, G Rajashekhar, Thinker, Udupi, K M Shareef, President, K F D, Karnataka Unit, Prof M Dattatreya, Novelist, Kuvempu University, Dharmadarshi Dayananda of Tandolige Sri Adimaaye Kshetra, Jappinamogaru, Mangalore, S N Shetty, President, and K L Ashok, general secretary, Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike, were the other dignitaries present on the occasion.
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