Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Oct 10: Members of Udupi Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS), Souharda Vedike, and other likeminded organizations staged a protest meeting near Clock Toweron Friday October 9 to condemn the death of Mohammed Akhlaq and a Dalit man burnt alive in Uttar Pradesh.

A 90-year-old Dalit man was attacked with a pick-axe and then set on fire by an upper caste man when he tried to enter a temple in Uttar Pradesh, while a Hindu mob killed 50-year-old Akhlaq suspecting him of eating beef.

Jayan Malpe, president, DSS, addressing the protestors said, “This protest is for survival of the democracy. Some Hindu organizations are creating conflicts among the public in the name of religion. Particularly one religion is being targeted on beef. But every religion has references to beef.”

He added that such heinous incidents were happening only in the name of vote bank politics. “Every religion eats beef including the Dalit community and also Hindus. Town people keep pet dogs in their homes but Dalits are neglected in society more than pets,” he added.

After flagging off a protest rally, William Martis said, “Eating cow meat is an offence at Uttar Pradesh. Is human life less important than a cow’s life? Let us show love for animals. No one mourns the murder of thousands of Muslims here. It is remains a secular nation only in name.”

Raja Shekhar. condemning the murder, said that innocents were killed in a cruel manner and it was an anti-human act

He alleged that Hindus are attacking the Muslim community due to having a one-sided opinion. “It is a matter of shame for Prime Minister Modi. There is need to protest against the anti- human policy of the BJP,” he added.