Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JM)

Mangaluru, Jun 20: The Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP) on Tuesday June 20 alleged that the district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai's recent reported instructions to the police to arrest Dr Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat was a 'proof of who was really behind the communal clashes' that have been happening in the district time and again, and demanded a CBI inquiry into all such clashes that have ever happened in the district.

Addressing a press meet here, VHP provincial working president M B Puranik said, "For the past several years, minor incidents have taken the communal colour and become serious clashes. The recent video showing minister Ramanath Rai asking the superintendent of police (SP) to arrest Dr Kalladka Bhat proves who is really behind it.

"Mangaluru is a communally sensitive area and every communal clash that happens is always considered to be done by VHP or Bajrang Dal. It is really lamentable how a respected leader like Ramanath Rai has spoken in the video footage. The minister has spoken very lightly about a respected man, Dr Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, in his conversation with the SP.

"By pressurising the SP to arrest Kalladka Bhat, the minister is interfering with the police department and misusing his powers to appease a community in order to make political gains, and thereby, is indirectly supporting communal clashes. This gives rise to the suspicion that Congress has a role to play in the many incidents of communal violence the district has witnessed in the past and the susbsequent filing of cases against innocents," he alleged.

"Therefore, the state government should immediately order a CBI probe into all incidents of communal clashes that have occured in Dakshina Kannada district," he demanded.

He further said that such behaviour by a senior leader like Rai has hurt the people of Dakshina Kannada. "At least now correct your behaviour and work for the development of the district without supporting any anti-social elements," he told Rai.

Addressing himself to Rai further, Puranik said, "Instead of viewing a senior RSS leader Dr Kalladka Prabhkar Bhat with a political lens, see him from the point of view of social service and look at his achievements. Through organizations like the VHP, he has instilled patriotism in the youths by undertaking religious and social works. Scores of students from all communities are obtaining education from the institutes her has set up. There is not a single incident where he has insulted a student based on his religion or caste."

He further said, "VHP believes in punishing anyone who goes against the norms of the society irrespective of religion or caste. There have been fights in a lot of places around the state and the country, but the government punishes the innocent while the real culprites are always let free. Ministers should treat people of all religions equally and not be partial towards anyone."

Quoting Ramanath Rai's purported statement in the video asking the police to book Kalladka Bhat under section 307 and that he will ensure Bhat does not escape, Puranik said, "The CBI has to be given charge of the investigation in this matter because it is very clear from the footage that even the police are under the ministers and they will not be able to investigate freely and fairly."

He further spoke about the transfer of the previous commissioner of police Chandra Sekhar and said, "The political leaders transfer the police officials who do not dance to their tunes, that was the very reason for the transfer of the previous commissioner. Even though he (Chandra Sekhar) was a very just man, he was transferred because he did not do as the politicians said."

He also said that VHP will extend its support to the protest to be held by the BJP on June 24 at BC Road.

The main agenda of this protest is to decry love Jihad, attack on Hindu temples and worship places, illegal transportation of cow and cow slaughter, and threatening actions of the government towards the Hindu community. VHP and Bajrang Dal activists from Mangaluru city, Ullal, Gurupur, Moodbidri, Karkala, Udupi, Puttur, Beltangady, Kalladka and Sullia will be part of the protest. "This protest is not just of VHP and Bajrang Dal, it is of every Hindu who is in distress because of the flaws in the administration," he said. Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa will also be a part of this protest, he said.

Sharan Pumpwell, Bhujanga Kulal and Gopal Kuthar were present.