Pics: Sphoorty Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RS/SP)
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Mangalore, Feb 21: Federation of Progressive Organizations from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, during a protest programme held in front of the office of the deputy commissioner here on Friday February 20, demanded for enforcing a ban on Sri Rama Sene and the resignation of state home minister Dr V S Acharya.
A public rally was organized by the organizations from the twin districts along with Karnataka Komu Sauharda Vedike, youth wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Peoples Union for Civil Liberties, State Christian Organizations’ Federation and Muslim Traders Association.
Inaugurating the programme, writer from Mandya H L Keshava Murthy said, the home minister has been implementing the principles and policies as dictated by the Sangh Parivar in the state and that he is happy at the notorious deeds of his followers. The state government has been working overboard to please the Sangh Parivar. As a result, common people are suffering from the injustices inflicted on them by the goondas supported by the government, he claimed.
Basavaraja Devaru Swamiji of Revanasiddeswara Math, Dharawad said that a government should never favourite a particular section of the society, but should keep the welfare of all the citizens in general. The leaders who are elected by the public should work for the good of all the sections of the society. Maintaining of law and order is the bounden duty of the government and whoever takes law into their hands should be punished, irrespective of what affect this action will have on the prospects of getting votes by the party in power, he stressed.
Pattabhirama Somayaji, lecturer in Mangalore University College in the city said that the students of the colleges too are getting attracted to the Sangh Parivar ideologies and they tend to undertake protests inside the colleges without knowing the full facts. He expressed his anguish at the interference of the district in- charge minister in the issue and the minister's demand for the former's suspension, without properly assimilating and understanding rules, procedures and regulations. "My statements made to the television channels on the pub attack case were politicized and the students were incited to organize a protest, demanding my dismissal," he explained. Pattabhi termed this development as a conspiracy hatched by the district in-charge minister who he alleged, has been implementing the Sangh Parivar’s agenda in Dakshina Kannada district.
District president of PUCL, P B D'Sa, Komu Sauharda Vedike convener K L Ashok, ex-minister B T Lalitha Nayak and other leaders from various organizations like Suresh Bhat Bhakrabail, Muhammad Kakkinje, MLAs U T Khader and Ramanath Rai also took part in the protest programme and addressed the protestors.
In general, all the speakers in unison demanded for enforcing of a ban on Sri Rama Sene which they said, has been working as a terrorist organization and that Dr V S Acharya is not suitable to lead the home ministry and ensure restoration of peace and tranquility in the state. They therefore, demanded his immediate resignation for his post.
A mobike rally was organized from Kudroli to the venue of the protest through the city roads, by the Muslim Central Committee, prior to the protest programme, in support of the same issues.
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