Mangalore: Communal Tension All Around; Is It ‘Modi’ Model?
By Melka Miyar
Daijiworld Media Network Mangalore
Mangalore, Jan 6: The undivided Dakshina Kannada district has been in the grip of communal tension for sometime. The clashes are occurring so often nowadays that communal strife has become almost a part and parcel of everyday life in coastal Karnataka. Some noted organizations are trying to depict it as attacks on a particular religion, but it is appreciable that police have been so far successful in bringing the situation under control.
If any clash takes place in and around Mangalore today, it never ends as a clash between two persons. Rather, it turns into a clash between two religions. The Sangh Parivar and Karnataka Forum for Dignity are claiming as saviors of Hinduism and Islam respectively. In between, the common man who does not want any riot is watching all this drama with fear.
File Picture
The recent incidents which took place one after the other in the coastal area are clear indications that some forces are trying to disturb the peace here. But the people who experienced the nightmare of a curfew for weeks in October 2006 are not reacting to all these incidents. If they did, the region would have experienced another major communal violence in the last week of December 2007. The people of coastal area deserve applause for maintaining unity even though some elements have been trying their best to pollute the environment.
One can recall an incident where a group attacked the police at Kasaba Bengre on December 22 when police tried to stop illegal cow slaughtering. Immediately after this incident, a group of about 25 people entered into a prayer centre located at Kankanady and attacked the children who were engaged in dance and music practice. Three persons were injured in this incident. ADGP (law and order) Shanker Bidari paid a visit to the city immediately after these incidents and assured that strict action would be taken against the culprits.
The incidents have been recurring daily. A communal riot was reported from B C Road in connection to sale of illegal beef on December 28 and seven were injured in this incident. The police had to use the cane to bring the situation under control.
An incident of desecration of a mosque by throwing the severed head of pig was reported from Mulur near Kaup a few days ago. But the Muslim community has maintained peace there. Meanwhile, a person called Sunil D’Souza was severely beaten up at Savanur which is about 18 km away from Puttur, the place where he hails from. Sources say that there was no reason for this attack, other than to curtail the situation. Saheed, resident of Kayarga in Savanur, who came into the rescue of Sunil D’Souza, was also attacked by the miscreants on this occasion. But the police have not arrested any accused person so far. Many a time the government machinery also fails to take right action at the right time. That is why some sections of the society are feeling insecure now.
But the recent incidents in the coastal region have given rise to some questions. Two national political parties are trying their best to polarize the votes as minorities and Hindus, keeping in view the upcoming assembly election in the state. BJP has decided to propagate ‘Modi’ model in Karnataka. Is it really all a part of ‘Modi’ model and why is Congress, which claims itself to be the ‘savior’ of minorities not doing anything?