Bangalore: Yeddy Condemns Home Stay Attack, C T Ravi Terms it 'Talibanic'
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jul 30: The inhuman and most uncivilized goondagiri by the moral policing perpetrators of Hindu Janajagarana Vedike figured prominently in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Monday with members cutting across party lines condemning attacks on young girls and youth taking part in a birthday party in the 'Morning Mist’ home stay at Padil in Mangalore on Saturday.
While the Congress and JD(S) leaders demanded the resignation of Home Minister R Ashok, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister and in charge of Transport Department, owning moral responsibility for what they termed as ''the most uncivilized act," the former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa came out in lambasting the attackers and asked the chief minister Jagadish Shettar to take stern action against them ''even if they are our own people so as to put an end to such rowdyism.
Yeddyurappa asked the Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar to take strong action against the people who were responsible for the attack. He said the attack on women dented the image of the State and termed it as "most inhuman act."
Most Inhuman, says Yeddy
"Severe punishment should be given to all those involved in the attack, even if they are our own people," he said adding that the punishment should be such that similar incidents should never be allowed to happen anywhere in the State.
Stating that the incident has auctioned the respect and dignity of women of the State, Yeddyurappa said the entire House should condemn the incident.
"They (attackers) may belong to any organisations, but they should not be spared," he said.
The condemnation of the Mangalore incident from members belonging to the opposition Congress and JD(S) as well as ruling BJP members, including the former chief minister Yeddyurappa, took such a serious turn that the Home Minister was forced to promise on the floor of the House that the culprits will be dealt with severely. The Higher Education Minister C T Ravi, who is also the Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, termed the attacks and goondaism as that of the ''Taliban kind" and declared that the Government would never spare the culprits.
Ravi said the police were not on the spot when the incident occurred at Home Stay. But his reference to the attack on a woman in Congress ruled Assam drew severe condemnation from the Opposition.
"This is Karnataka and not Assam," Opposition leader Siddaramaiah said.
Siddu Terms it ''Most Uncivilised"
The Opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah termed the attack on young women and men in Mangalore by activists of the Hindu Janajagarana Vedike as "the most uncivilised act" and demanded resignation of Ashok and registration of cases against activists under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).
Siddaramaiah, who raised the issued during the Zero Hour in the House, demanded suspension of the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police and other top officials of the district who were responsible for the "shameful incident" and for their failure to curb the menace of the Sangh Parivar ''hooligans."
JD(S) Deamnds CBI Probe
The JD(S) leader H D Revanna demanded a CBI probe into the incident to bring out the forces behind such anti-social elements and for the ''inactiveness" of the police was the major reason for the ugly attack on girls,
Pointing out that former Home Minister late M V Rama Rao had tendered resignation in the House when the police committed atrocities against women in Madhugiri during the S Nijalingappa government, Siddaramaiah asked Ashok to emulate the example of late Rama Rao owning moral responsibility.
Activists of the Sri Rama Sene, Hindu Janajagarana Vedike and Bajrang Dal
were behind attacks on churches, pubs and women in the coastal belt, Siddaramaiah said and condemned that the failure of the BJP Government to take stringent action against such anti-social elements had ''emboldened" them and believe that they can get away with anything.
''Why is the Government is not banning these organizations?," he asked and said repeated attacks on women occurred due to "soft attitude of the Government" and some of the
"activists are habitual offenders." ''The entire coastal region has become the laboratory of the Sangh Parivar to practice their anti-minority policies."
''Mohan Padil was Behind the Attack"
''The situation in the coastal region has become so horrible that a Muslim boy or girl cannot dare to speak to a girl or boy belonging to Hindu community in public or even brother and sister to go out together or travel in the same bus," he said pointing out that there have been several such instances in the past and the BJP Government had been soft-pedalling such incidents.
The Congress leader contended that the BJP corporator Mohan Padil was behind the attack on college girls when they celebrating a birthday party of their friend. ''Is there a Government in the State? Is there law and order in the State?," he asked.
Young girls have been raped, molested, attacked in the name of the Hindutva, said Congress members K Abhyachandra, K Vasanth Bangera, Ramanath Rai and U T Khadar.
''We are ashamed to be legislators from the coastal region," said Bangera and Khader.
They alleged that the attack was pre-planned and the police were hand in glove with activists. Even though 50 activists were involved in the incident, the police arrested only eight people, they said.
''Lotus Wilting, BJP Image Sullied"
Another BJP leader H S Shankarlinge Gowda said the State Government was responsible for the attack and violation of human rights of the people in Mangalore.
"Such incidents had not occurred during the tenure of previous governments," he said and demanded that all those were who were responsible for the attack must be put behind bars.
Shankaralinge Gowda blamed the BJP Government for the barbaric attack on women in Mangalore. Acknowledging the performance of the Vajyapayee government, the people voted the BJP Government in the State.
"But the BJP’s symbol Lotus blossomed in scandals and not in slush," he said and condemned the attack.
"Both the Home Minister and police are inactive and inefficient," he said contending that the incident had dented the image of the party and the people of the State would teach a fitting lesson to the BJP in the coming elections, he said.
Shankaralinge Gowda also hit out at Yeddyurappa for denying him the ministerial berth in the D V Sadananda and Jagadish Shettar governments.
Moral policing: Centre slams Karnataka Govt's inaction
New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI): Slamming the Karnataka government for failing to stop attacks by Hindu outfits on young boys and girls in the State in name of moral policing, the Centre today demanded firm action against the "hoodlums" for such acts.
I&B Minister Ambika Soni said incidents of moral policing like the one in Mangalore last Saturday have been enacted earlier too and inaction by the state government is only encouraging elements with "sick minds" from resorting to such offences.
"I think the state government should have stepped in long ago because not stepping in and not dealing with them firmly is only encouraging them. Nobody under the law of the land under the Indian Constitution has the right to violate the modesty of women or any other Indian citizen," Soni said.
Referring to visuals aired by TV channels, she told Headlines Today that there is "proof to take them (the attackers) under arrest... these people should be behind bars. Their minds are sick." Suspected Hindu Jagarane Vedike activists carried out attacks on young boys and girls at a private home-stay in Mangalore on Saturday last alleging that a rave party was on at the home stay where illegal activities were going on.
"If you are entertaining a friend, celebrating a birthday party or celebrating the birth of a child in your own home, no one has the right to trespass your home," Soni asserted.
Twelve persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.