Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Feb 20: Mahendra Kumar is the former convener of Bajrang Dal, Karnataka. He was reportedly involved in the 2008 church attacks that happened in Coastal Karnataka.
Later, he quit Bajrang Dal and adopted left ideology. He also openly attacks the ideology of right-wing outfits.
He is the founder of Jana Dhwani movement.
Mahendra Kumar shares his insights on religious conversions, church attacks of 2008 and his stand on CAA and NRC in an exclusive interview with Daijiworld editor-in- chief Walter Nandalike in Public Challenge on Daijiworld TV’s 24X7.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q: You served as state president of Bajrang Dal and worked with several right-wing outfits for many years. People identify you as a key person behind church attacks that happened in 2008. What was the reason you went from being extreme right to extreme left to middle left?
A: I have repeated several times to the world that I am not right or left. I am always in the centre. In my days with Sangh Pariwar, due to my opinions and the stand I took, I was called a leftist in Hindu outfits. This is because, I used to raise my voice in favour of exploited and suppressed. For same reason, I also had clashes with RSS. I am the person who constructed Bajrang Dal from base level, all over Karnataka. So RSS and their leaders are compelled to consider me for major posts of Bajrang Dal.
In the case of church attacks of 2008, I have to reveal many things. Regarding church attacks, I have never opened myself in front of channels. I want to write a book which will give a detailed picture of the church attacks and my involvement.
Q: There is a general opinion that Mahendra Kumar attacked churches alleging conversion. But after church attack, he himself got converted. Is it right?
A: I am still opposing forced religious conversions. But we cannot generalize conversion in the name of religion. In Christian community, Catholics are not bothered or interested in conversions. Protestants are also the same. But there are few groups who have become money minded. Without having any basic knowledge of Bible, they are preaching about Christ and this hurts other people’s religious sentiments. These people are the real troublemakers. According to me, if I believe in Jesus, I should not insult Eshwar. I should not hurt religious sentiments of other religions or should not criticize them. It is my policy and I follow this.
There were many reasons behind the incidents of 2008. Jesus is my favorite and I still love him. The scene of a broken statue of Jesus in Milagres made to me cry. I openly conveyed my regrets through TV channels, regarding this broken statue.
Q: Do you think there are fanatics in every religion?
A: Yes. Fanatics are there in every religion. No religion is teaching hatred. Few people who do not know about religion but posing as protectors of religion are the troublemakers in society.
Q: Did the incident of 2008 act as a turning point in your life?
A: Yes. The incident of 2008 made me think and mooted me to take bold steps. Many say that if I continued in Bajrang Dal, I would have been an MP or MLA today. But I am not an aspirant of any of these posts. Position comes and goes but making a space in the hearts of people is very important. Gandhiji did the same. He did not become minister or handle any posts. In my case, after the church attack, RSS was never interested to bring me out me from jail. Yediyurappa was the chief minister in the state. I had clashes with RSS and BJP over their political hypocrisy. They wanted to me keep me in jail for few days because the Datta Peeta issue came up at the same time. Government and BJP understood that if I come out, I would join members of Datta Mala Abhiyana. So Yediyurappa and BJP wanted me to be in jail for few more days.
Q: Did you think the jail life of 2008 help you realise who is right and who is wrong?
A: I already told you, I had regular clashes with the leaders of RSS and BJP. But jail life of 2008 made me take a stand against the hierarchy present in Hindu outfits. The life of the prisoners who were jailed for communal clashes made think me twice. They are all fooled by their leaders. Inspired by hate speeches and meetings, they commit the crime. But once they are jailed, they become helpless and are forced to face punishment alone. This hurt me and forced me to rethink my work as a leader of the same outfit.
Within few days of getting bail, I went to Beltangady to visit one of my friends. There, I was met a lady who was a Hindu but converted to Christianity. Her life story completely brought a change in my life. Her life became an eye opener for me about Christians, conversion and class system prevalent in the Hindu community. Entire Hindu community is controlled by Brahmins. There is no power and freedom to leaders of other communities in Hindu outfits, RSS or BJP. All are zero in front of Brahmanism.
Q: In your opinion who is powerless in BJP?
A: Nalin Kumar Kateel is a zero in BJP. He is only an instrument in the party. Everything is decided by RSS and some upper caste leaders. Everyone in Dakshina Kannada knows that Nalin Kumar does not have any hold in BJP. Kota Srinivas Poojary also faces the same fate. Only Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar made a name as a leader, without any backings of RSS. Vinay Shetty, Sudarshan Moodbidri or Sathyajith Surathkal is capable leaders in BJP. But RSS does not want them to take up leadership.
Q: Nowadays, everywhere there are protests against CAA and NRC. You are a person in demand to address these protests and rallies. What is your opinion on CAA and NRC?
A: I am not opposing CAA. My opposition is NRC. Without NRC, government cannot implement CAA. Government is planning to segregate people of the entire nation through NRC. I am opposing this. Instead of asking documents from Indian citizens, police department and intelligence should trace the illegal migrants and send them out.
Government does not have any seriousness on this. Simply, they are dividing people of the nation in the name of religion and creating confusion. Instead of CAA and NRC, government actually needs to do rectify issues of our nation.
Q: Do you have think Christians forgave you for church attacks? Do you have any regrets about the church attacks?
A: I do not bother whether Christians forgave me or not. Still, I oppose the insult of other people’s religious sentiments. But I love Christ and I pray directly to him. I have great reverence for Mother Theresa. I am living with the intention of changing this society according to Gandhi, Jesus and Mother Theresa. I will continue my fight.
Watch full interview: