Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Mar 20: A massive protest led by United Muslim Organization, DK district was held at DC's office here on Friday March 20 against the sexual assault on a three-and-a-half-year-old child allegedly by the driver of her school van. The protestors demanded action against the school as well as lamented that none of the locals leaders was showing interest in taking action in the case.
Addressing the protest, former mayor Ashraf said, "The parents of the child are poor and it is a fact that the sexual assault has taken place, but still the political leaders have not raised their voice against the crime. If politicians cannot condemn such kinds of incidents, they should leave politics."
He further said, "A committee has been formed to investigate this case but why has action not been taken against the school? Why are organizations not coming out to protest? Why is there such a discrimination?"
"When the family of victim approach the police station they do not get proper information about the status of the case and people also are unsure where this case has reached. But we will always stand by the family," he said.
"Presently exams are going on in the school and we do not want to interrupt, but after the exams are over we will hold strong protests and we will not stop our agitation till the victim and her family get justice," he declared.
Rafiquddin Kudroli of Uniwef said, "Communalism has spread throughout the district. Though the accused in this case has been arrested, it should not stop there and the victim and her family should get justice. We strongly condemn this incident.
"Though such an inhuman incident has taken place, ruling and opposition political leaders are still silent. District incharge minister has not visited the family's house so far. People of Dakshina Kannada elected seven leaders from the secular party but no leader is responding to this incident. In future this will prove to be a threat to the (Congress) party," he said.
He further added, "When such an incident took place in Bengaluru, for three months the school was shut down and the same should happen in this case. We are demanding our Constitutional rights. There are 14 percent Muslims in Karnataka. We will not allow you MLAs to be elected next time."
Referring to some of the recent incidents in the city, Rafiquddin lashed out at health minister U T Khadar for not taking action and said, "Moral policing cases are continuing still. The administration failed to allow students to go on their college tour. When a nun was kidnapped, Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo went to Bengaluru and spoke to CM, but in this sexual assault case, the MLA of the constituency (U T Khadar) only assured that he would speak to the CM but he did not. You (Khadar) are busy in your own private work. In the next election also you can be busy with your own work and need not be MLA anymore.
"There may be classification within the Muslim community, but when the question of existence arises, we are all Muslims and we are united," he asserted.
Jamath-e-Islam spokesperson Abdul Khader Kukkila said, "Presently in DK, crime is treated on the basis of religion. Treat crime as a crime and not according to religion. When the Nirbhaya case happened in Delhi, several Muslims joined hands and protested against the incident. But when it happens in Mangaluru on a three-year-old child, no one is coming forward to condemn the incident except Muslims. Even the secular leaders have failed to respond to the incident and have neglected the case. Crime is being tagged to religion. This kind of mentality should be questioned and dealt with, or else it would be a threat to our society's future."
Prof Pattabhirama Somayaji of Mangalore University College said, "Schools are institutions that build character and provide education. But now they are becoming businesses. A school that does not provide security to child is unfit to function. Though the inhuman act of sexual assault has taken place on a child, there is no active response from people. We should fight non-violently against injustice and we should protest against the school till the government de-recognizes it. The school should be closed, and if not, we will hold protest. The school management should also come out in public and apologize and provide free education to the victim as long as she wants to study."
Hameed Kandak, vice-president of Central Muslim Committee, Ali Hasan, Hussain Kausari of Karnataka Islamic Centre, Mohammed Haneef of PFI, Mohammed Thufail of Campus Front of India and others also spoke on the occasion.
Over a thousand people took part in the protest.
A memorandum was submitted to the state government through the deputy commissioner demanding speedy probe into the case and stringent action against the accused as well as the school.