Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (RJP)
Mangalore, Oct 27: "Jihad means struggle. By prefixing the word ‘love’ the Sangh Parivar has created a new term ‘Love Jihad’ which is unfair. Now they are trying to break the harmony in the society and establish their agenda," said Anwar Sadat, chairman of Creative Foundation.
Sadat was speaking during the protest organised by Popular Front of India (PFI) in front of Konaje police station here on Monday October 27. The protest was called to demand the arrest of Bajrang Dal activists for the alleged abduction and forced marriage of Vivita Sonia D’Souza to Roshan Shetty on October 16.
"Love Jihad means struggle for social justice. It is a struggle for the rights of widows and the downtrodden. The Sangh Parivar has twisted its meaning by adding the word 'love'. When women went missing in the Cyanide Mohan case, Jagadish Shenava had uttered some words against the police and Muslims in front of Konaje police station and issued threats. PFI does not bite just because the dog has bitten. PFI will not let Muslims suffer. Let Jagadish Shenava himself say who should punish him for the alleged attempt of rape and forcible marriage of Vivita," he said.
"People were living in harmony until the formation of the Sangh Parivar. From the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi to Samjhauta Express incident, Sangh Parivar’s contribution to unrest is known. Terrorism has started because of this," he alleged.
PFI district president Atavulla A M said, "Vivita has come back in protest of the 'Saffron Love Jihad' of Sangh Parivar. The Sangh Parivar criticizes Muslims for so called Love Jihad which does not exist. But Sangh Parivar itself is involved in such things. Anybody can fall in love and marry in India, but that should not become a basis for hatred in the society. The police should act impartially and act against the accused in this case. They should charge them under appropriate sections instead of lighter charges as they have done now. If the police do not arrest the accused within a week, we will protest in front of the police commissioner’s office."
Pavoor gram panchayat member Valerian D’souza, PFI secretary Hanif Katipalla, SDPI state committee member Alphonso Franko, Imam council president Jaffer Sadiq Faizi were present in the protest.
Memorandum to police commissioner
Meanwhile, the PFI also submitted a memorandum addressed to the Mangalore police commissioner regarding the alleged forced wedding of Vivita D’ Souza held at the Arya Samaj.
"A police case has been registered in the Konaje police station under IPC section 323, 366, 342, 143 and 147 against six people viz Roshan Shetty, VHP leader Jagadish Shenava, Praveen, Sharath, Ganesh Kumpala and Dinesh Kadri, stating that Amblamogaru resident Patrick D’Souza’s daughter Vivita Sonia D’ Souza was forcibly taken to Arya Samaj and got
her married to Roshan Shetty by force," the memorandum states.
"The people identified by Vivita Sonia D’Souza are leaders in VHP. Inter-religious love marriages have taken place in society for a long time. However, over the last few years theSangh Parivar has resorted to moral policing, pub attack and home stay attacks and created fear among citizens of Dakshina Kannada district and brought a bad name for the district. Now a police complaint has been registered that a girl was kidnapped, forcibly converted and forced to get married.
"It is obvious that this kind of incident is detrimental to the democratic setup of the country and an impediment for harmonious existence. Hence we request that the accused may please be arrested immediately, suitable legal action against them and social harmony maintained," urges PFI in the memorandum.
The memorandum was handed over to ACP Udaya Nayak at Konaje police station.