Yeddy, Acharya Promise Tough Action Against V-Day Opponents
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bangalore, Feb 12: Even as the police took into custody as many as 100 persons as a precautionary measure against those threatening to disrupt the Valentine’s Day celebrations on Sunday, Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and home minister Dr V S Acharya have directed the police to sternly deal with anybody attempting to break the law.
Addressing reporters after a high-level meeting with the top police brass including State Director General of Police Dr Ajay Kumar Singh and city police commissioner Shankar Bidari at his residence, the chief minister declared that the government would take tough action against anybody violating the law irrespective of whether they are from the Sri Ram Sene or opposition Congress-JD(S) parties.
The meeting was held in the wake of the blackening of the face of the right-wing Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Mutalk, prominent opponent of the V-Day in Bangalore on Thursday.
"Police have been given clear directions to maintain vigil in all the sensitive spots in the city and in the districts, “ the chief minister said.
The home minister said the government would not come in the way of lovers or anybody observing V-Day as long as they ``remain within the bounds of decency.”
"We will maintain tight vigilance. Nobody will be allowed to cross the limits,’’ Dr Acharya said making it clear that, ``it applies to lovers observing V-Day or the opponents as well as those attempting to indulge in moral policing.’’
Dr Acharya strongly condemned the blackening of the face of Pramod Mutalik allegedly by Congress workers when he was participating in a debate on V-Day organized by a local Kannada TV channel in an open air theatre in the Ravindra Kalakshetra premises on Thursday. He blamed the Congress and JD(S) workers for trying to take law into their own hands.
Meanwhile, the police commissioner Shankar Bidari, who spoke to reporters separately said two persons, who are believed to be youth Congress workers, who had been arrested in connection with the Mutalik face-blackening episode were produced before the magistrate and remanded to judicial custody till February 26. There others – Mahesh, Srishant and Karthik – who had been taken into police custody in connection with the incident had been released on bail
"Ours is a democratic country and everybody enjoys the freedom to practice and propagate their religion. Everybody is entitled to observe and celebrate as long as they remain within the bounds of law and do not cross the limits of decency and civilized behavior,” Bidari said.
With the ruling BJP and the government blaming the Congress party for the face-blackening episode, KPCC president R V Deshpande and working president D K Shiva Kumar, at separate press conferences, attacked the government for allowing the Sri Ram Sene and other Sangh Parivar outfits a free hand in terrorizing and creating a fear-psychosis among the minorities and the youth.
Seeking to distance the Congress party from the Mutalik face-blackening episode, which has received wide publicity and even appreciation from the youth, Deshpande demanded that the Sri Ram Sene chief should be immediately arrested for his public threats to disrupt the Valentine’s Day celebratons and thereby causing law and order problems.
Condemning the face-blackening episode, Deshpande said Congressmen were not involved in such activities as it was ``not part of our culture.’’ At the same time, he said self-styled custodians of Indian culture and Hindutva should not be allowed to dictate terms or oppose observation of V-Day, Father’s Day or such events.
"Everybody has a right to decide and celebrate if they want to observe Valentine’s Day. The Sri Ram Sene, Bajrang Dal or Vishwa Hindu Parishad should not interfere or dictate,’’ Deshpande asserted.
KPCC working president D K Shiva Kumar said: ``Face-blackening or attacking pub-going women or assaulting youngsters of minority communities from talking to the opposite sex is not part of Congress party’s programme.”
"If the government has proof against the involvement of Congressmen in the alleged face-blackening episode, let them be arrested,” he said asking the chief minister and home minister to desist from baseless allegations.
Denouncing the attacks by BJP and other Sangh Parivar outfits against Congress leaders, their residences or party offices, Shiva Kumar warned that the ruling party and government alone will be held responsible if any law and order problems arise.
"Congress party has a huge army of youth and dedicated workers. We can effectively deal with and tackle the Sri Ram Sene activists or not one but hundreds of Pramod Mutaliks. We cannot remain silent spectators,” he said asking: ``Who is he to forcibly marry off youngsters merely because they choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day?