Daijiworld Media Network -Mangaluru(DV)
Mangaluru, Aug 21: "None should compare Ambedkar with Savarkar. It is an insult to Ambedkar and other freedom fighters," opined John Brittas, Member of Parliament from Kerala.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address mentioned the name of Savarkar along with Ambedkar. None should compare Ambedkar with Savarkar. It is like doing injustice to Ambedkar and other freedom fighters," he said.
He also stressed that in the coming days Savarkar might be considered as the father of the nation, instead of Mahatma Gandhi.
"Savarkar, his ideology, and his organisation did not contribute anything to the freedom struggle or India's Independence," he said.
John Brittas was speaking during the Janashakthi Utsava held at Bishop Jathanna Hall here on Sunday, August 21.
"It is essential to stop the mindset that divides the country on the basis of religion. Hence, the media plays a key role in building a better nation. The only institution that can save this country is the media," he said.
Taking a dig at the right-wing organisations he said, "the media is an important component. It affects your mind. Hence, the entire media has been hijacked by this ideology. Media plays a prominent role," he added.
Further continuing Brittas said that nearly 20 crores of people from the suppressed classes still do not have representation in the legislature, judiciary, executive, and the media.
Speaking on the diversity of the country he said that there are no people from suppressed communities in the judiciary or other top positions despite the India entering its 75th year of Indian Independence.
"The people of Mangaluru have been divided in the name of religion and caste. This is the laboratory of Hindutva. Even now in the name of love Jihad, Hijab, and in the name of Halal people are being divided," he added.
Narrating his role as a journalist during the demolition of Babri Masjid, he said, "the ideology of hate and hatred has managed to get the mandate from the people of this country and they are ruling our country."
"The prime minister will never come to the parliament. He will never utter any speech on anything on prime issues. Media is being kept away. They are threatened and being made as slaves," Brittas said.
Speaking on the release of convicts in the Bilkis Banu case, he said their release has been celebrated on the streets of Gujarat. "Few representatives of Gujarat are defending them saying that the accused are from the Brahmin community. These murderers and rapists are being garlanded across Gujarat," he said.
Professor Puroshatham Bilimale said, "according to the 2011 census the total speakers of the Sanskrit language is 24,600. They are targeting it to make 40 crore within the 2040 census. They are aiming to make Sanskrit a national language by 2033."
He also stressed that people should not forget their mother tongue.
"RSS wings are working hard to reach 40 crores. And they know how to capture Indian emotion," he added.
"There is a strategy going on to make Sanskrit a national language by ignoring the Kannada language. This is undemocratic," he said.
He also said that there are numerous languages in the country. Moreover, there are several people who speak different languages in Karnataka. And the Kannadigas have accepted them. Karnataka has an inclusive culture. And the people always lived in harmony.
"We should not encourage racists," he added.
Professor Chandra Poojary also spoke during the occasion.
Retired professor B M Rohini, writer S Y Gurushantha executive editor, U Basavaraj publisher Dr K Prakash editor, N K Vasanthraj, K Yadava Shetty, Vasudev Uchil Nithyanandaswamy, Dr Krishnappa Konchadi Munir Katipalla and others were also present.