Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MD/KK)
Mangalore, Apr 29: In a scathing attack on the state Congress government over the Sringeri shootout case where Suratkal resident Kabeer was killed in a case of mistaken identity, the district unit of VHP on Tuesday April 29 said that the government was making a 'saint' out of Kabeer.
Addressing a protest in front of the DC's office here, VHP leader Jagadish Shenava said, "We had one Sant Kabir in history, and now the Congress government is creating another one. The money announced as compensation to Kabeer's belongs to the people who pay taxes and is not chief minister Siddaramaiah's father property to give away."
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Hindu Jagarana Vedike organized the protest to demand withdrawal of the murder case against ANF trooper Naveen Naik and also to take back the compensation given to Kabeer’s family.
"The government should think twice before giving compensation to anyone. Almost 4,000 cattle have been stolen but the government has never shown any sympathy nor given any compensation; but the family of a person who got killed for cattle theft gets Rs 30 lac. Here, Rs 30 lac is like insurance; if you get killed your family gets the insurance money."
Further, referring to the Brahmarakootlu tollgate issue, he said that the government is behaving as if its not even aware of the vanadalism incident.
"The person who threw cow dung at (Komu Souharda Vedike president Suresh Bhat Bakrabail) was booked under section 307, but people who destroyed the toll booths were left free. The circle inspector who was in charge at the toll gate has said that nothing happened at the time," he added.
"The Hindu community has never done anything bad. Hindus never take money from anyone and create problems. If the government invokes Goonda Act against our Hindu youth, the entire district will rise in protest against the government. If the murder case against the ANF trooper is not withdrawn, the entire state will join hands with us and hold a massive protest," he warned.
Former Air Force serviceman Narayan Kamath said, "I do not belong to any group; being an Indian citizen I came here to say that we have to forget two words - 'Hindu' and 'Muslim'.
"Kabeer was killed in an area where a lot of Naxal activities have taken place, and so ANF men were patrolling the area. Kabeer might be innocent and might have been doing his work to support his family. But if he was innocent and was not trafficking stolen cattle, why was he transporting them at 3:30 in the morning?" he questioned.
"The government without any proper investigation has announced compensation to Kabeer's family. Wasting tax payers' money is condemnable. If Kabeer is eligible for compensation, then his family can get it, but if he is not, giving the money without any investigation is not right," he added.
"The government did not provide any support or compensation to rape and murder victim Sowjanya's family, but have released money for Kabeer's kin. Our Dharma says do not lie, do not cheat; saving our Dharma is saving ourselves."
Bajrang Dal chief Sharan Pumpwell, Hindu Jagarana Vedike president Satyajeet Suratkal, Raviraj Kadaba and others were present during the protest.