Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Oct 27: After strong opposition by some of the pro-Hindu outfits, MLC Ivan D’Souza has changed the venue of ‘Souhardha Deepawali’ organized by him.
Addressing the media persons here at his office in MCC on Thursday October 27, Ivan said “Along with my friends, I had organised a programme in Kadri temple on the eve of Deepawali earlier. When I had organized Iftar many of my Hindu friends had suggested that we should celebrate all festivals. Thus I had formed a committee of 50 members which includes people from all religion. Amrith Kadri is one of the members of that committee. He had suggested that it is good to celebrate Deepawali in Kadri temple's Rajangana.”
“I agreed to it and got all the permissions from the concerned authorities. I just wanted to celebrate the feast with all the people and there was no other intention in my mind. We had organized various competitions on the Deepawali theme. Rice and spectacles distribution were part of the programme. I am a devotee of Kadri temple. When I became the chief whip, I had visited Kadri temple first. No one is above God. I did not have anything other than this in mind.” Ivan added.
Lashing out at state president of VHP, MB Puranik, Ivan said, “He has worked in Christian institute as a teacher in Shirva and he has to tell me how it hurts the Hindu religious sentiments?”
“I will not celebrate the feast at Kadri temple if it is hurting the sentiments of a single person. They want to create some problem by using this and I will not give any scope for this. Thus I have convinced my friends and we would conduct this programme in Gorakshanatha Hall in Kadri on Saturday, October 29 a 10.00 am.” Ivan said.
On being asked whether his decision to change the venue came due to fear, Ivan said, “This is a good programme. We are celebrating a festival and I do not want to get my ego into it. Being the representative of government I have my responsibilities. My intention is clear. So I do not want to give any chance for someone to make wrong propaganda against me.”