Communal forces should be nipped in the bud'

Mangalore, September 4: Leaders of various political parties who recently came together to form Karavali Souharda Sangharsha Samithi, organised a protest-rally in the city on Tuesday. According to the organisers, the intention of the programme is to fight for communal harmony in the region in the backdrop of homestay attack.

Addressing the gathering in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner, B Ramanath Rai, President of the Samithi, said that the homestay attack had become a matter of embarrassment to the entire region. It has brought shame to us all. From the past 4 – 5 years, incidents such as these have become a hindrance to the existing harmony in our district. The perpetrators are tearing the country apart in the name of language, caste and creed. There is a need for harmony in the region. People should unify and put an end to communal conflicts, he said.

He said that the ones who imposed moral policing ought to be booked under the Goonda Act. A thorough investigation on the attack should be conducted by the CBI and such communal forces should be nipped in the bud, he said, warning that such incidents should not occur again.

Chandrakala Nandavara, a noted litterateur, who is one of the secretaries of the Samithi, said that the men who had maltreated and abused the youngsters were those who did nothing constructive for the society. Those men have developed into an institution where they are confident and secure enough to take the law into their own hands and carry out their moral policing, she said.

Speaking on atrocities committed on women, she questioned the culprits' right. “Who are they to impose themselves on young women? Who gave them the morality to commit such acts of violence?” she demanded.

She also criticised the media for having repeatedly telecast the video taken during the homestay attack.

P Sanjeeva, vice-president of the Samithi, said that the anti-social elements that carried out the attack on students had an uncivilized and inhuman culture. “Where were you when 'cyanide killer' Mohan Kumar raped and murdered dozens of innocent women across the state?” he demanded.

Referring to the attackers, he said, “They think they are above the law. They have developed into such a kind that no one can raise questions or carry out investigation against them.”

K Amarnath Shetty, former minister, B Madhava, general secretary, and H V Rao, secretary of the committee, also spoke at the meeting.

P V Mohan, K R Shriyan, Sara Aboobaker and Sushil Noronha were also present on the occasion.