Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jan 31: Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister V Sunil Kumar, has justified the display of banner announcing that Hindus alone are allowed to conduct trade there during the local annual fair at Ullalbail. The banner had been hung there a few days back.
Sunil Kumar, when supporting the act, had stated that his prime priority will be to ensure that the activists who displayed the banners to not face problems. But former minister, U T Khader, expressed resentment at this development. He said that as a minister of the government, it is the duty of Kumar to work in a way that does not create problems for the common people, and said that he has asked the officials to ensure that such problems do not get created in his constituency.
U T Khader (left) and V Sunil Kumar
The controversial banner
"The ministers should not mislead the people just because the people behind the act are party activists. The children of several activists have stayed back at home, being unable to pay school fee. Families of activists are unable to complete the construction of their partially built houses. The minister should help them to tide over these problems. He should meet the bills of the families of activists who have been hospitalized and have problems paying bills," he advised.
He told the minister that many activists who work for the leaders are in prison and they have no money to meet the lawyer fees. "Such people have to be helped out. Likewise, several have no jobs. You can help them get jobs. Instead of helping your activists, if you indulge in instigating the activists during the elections, brainwash them and wedge a divide in the society, you will be doing them a disservice," he told Sunil Kumar.
"On a future date, they may face cases. If being a minister, you become a silent spectator from a distance, it does not behove of you. I had instructed to act against those who hung the banners. Otherwise people go on hanging banners and disturb the health of the society. The Ullal temple where the said banner was found, is visited by people of all the religions. I am one of the visitors to that temple. I had ensured that a concrete road is laid to the Vaidyanatha temple," he clarified.
Khader said that the managing committee of the temple is doing a good job. When the temple is running smoothly, some people, by hanging banners like these, vitiate the atmosphere in the society. We should not allow miscreants belonging to any caste or religion to wrest control of the society. I am sure that Sunil Kumar will support these notions, he said.
He noted that the objectionable banners announcing that only the Hindus are allowed to carry out trade at Ullalbail fair have been hung there. He said that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have displayed banners announcing that only those who worship the Daivas and gods of this land can carry on trade there. The banners also contain a call not to allow people from other religions to conduct business at fairs, Nemas, festivities etc, he noted. Khader has demanded stern action against those who make such banners and those who print them and that cases should be registered against them.