Mangalore, November 2: An alleged racist resolution of a city based flat owners association - which prohibited the individual owners in the apartment from leasing or renting their flats out to any Muslims - has evoked strong response from all sections of people on Wednesday.
An official letterhead of Prasad Apartments Owners Association put up at the notice board of Prasad Apartments near Vasan Eye Care Hospital Bendorewell, urges the individual owners not to let their flats to Muslims either on rent or lease.
This condition is sixth among the list of seven decisions and resolutions adopted by the Association at a meeting held on March 20 this year. (A picture of the same letterhead taken on Wednesday, November 2, can be seen below). Interestingly, this particular condition, among the seven resolutions, has been highlighted by underlining in red.
Expressing shock over Association's move, S P Chengappa, President of Mangalore Bar Association, said that this is totally unacceptable in a secular country like India, whose constitution upholds equality and forbids any kind of discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, creed or sex. This resolution clearly violates the Indian constitution and law of the land, he stated.
Ivan D'Souza, KPCC State secretary and a practicing lawyer, stated the resolution smacks of immaturity. “It also casts doubts on the Indianness of the people concerned. An Indian citizen cannot take such an undemocratic decision at any cost”, he said adding that boycotting people of any particular religion or community while buying or selling a flat is against the law.
He also demanded a strict action against the Association, for violating the rule of law and exhibiting bias against a particular community.
Suresh Bhat Bakrabail of Karnataka Komu Sauharda Vedike said that the Association should immediately withdraw its hate-mongering resolution and apologize to the Muslim community immediately. “If they failed to do so, police should take suo motto action without waiting for a formal complaint, as the notice is enough to instigate unrest in the sensitive coastal city,” he said.
P B D'Sa, State President, People's Union for Civil Liberties, said that this is nothing but nonsense. “Do they think all of their community people are good and all Muslims are bad?” he asked.
This criminal act deserves a stringent action, he opined.
While contacted Seemanth Kumar Singh, Commissioner of Mangalore City Police, said that any move, which spoils social and communal harmony, is a punishable office. “Police will take legal action if they receive any complaint against this issue,” he said.
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