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

Mangaluru, Jan 30: In a show of unite, scores of people on Tuesday January 30 gathered in the heart of the city to form a human chain against communalism and communal politics, under the banner of 'Souhardategagi Karnataka' ('Karnataka for harmony').

The human chain stretched from clock tower to Nehru Maidan, after which a public meet was organized.

Chief minister's media advisor Dinesh Amin Mattu took the opportunity to attack the RSS, particularly its leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat.

Addressing the gathering, Mattu said, "RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat recently visited Kudroli temple during the release of Janardhan Poojary's autobiography. This is an insult to Sri Narayana Guru because Kalladka Bhat is directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of Billawa youths or for sending them to jail."

He also attacked senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary, who has often been vocal about his displeasure with the CM and other Congress leaders on various issues. "Janardhan Poojary by joining hands with Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat has harmed the spirit of unity. He should have known who is to be kept out. We do not need any history books to know about Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, we have to listen to recent speeches. He does not have any moral right to enter Narayana Guru's Kudroli temple."

He further said, "Several people including Congressmen are afraid to take the name of Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, I don't know why. Who is he? Is he the Prime Minister or the President? Which Hindutva is he talking about, does he have the moral right to talk about Hindutva? Is he killing the members of his own house or is he killing someone else through his house?

"The minds of Sangh Parivar allies who involve in immoral activities have to be cleaned by senior members of that particular community. Instead of doing this, Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat is seen joining hands with Janardhan Poojary. He will be seen cooking up stories and crying on the stage. That is why I say, if we fail to recognise the real enemy our fight will go in vain," he said.

"Dakshina Kannada and Udupi together gave birth to five national banks. Indira Gandhi was the force behind the nationalisation of banks which enabled them to reach the doors of the poor. Janardhan Poojary had organised 'Sala Melas' (loan fairs) through banks for disbursement of loans to poor people at low interest rates which has to be appreciated, but when demonetisation happened, the same Janardhan Poojary did not utter a single word.

"It is unfortunate that there are Hindu leaders who defend Nathuram Godse. Instead of being in jail they are roaming free, and because of the kind of influence they have, they indulge in immoral activities," Mattu said.

"As election is around the corner, we should understand what are the issues around us. Development issues have to be discussed, corruption issues have to be discussed. The country will move forward only if the voters think about development and want a clean administrator, but you cheat yourself if you think about religion, God and communal issues. Both Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat election started in the name of development, but by the end itl turned into graveyard and the whole voting trend changed. Those who use God in election posters should be turned away. God should be inside our houses, but those who use Rama and Krishna to face elections should be chased away, because they are the religious traitors," he said.

Hinting at BJP's oft-repeated charge that chief minister Siddaramaiah was 'anti-Hindu', he said, "The chief minister of Karnataka says that people will not forget those who give food and jobs, but when religion comes in between, the whole scenario changes and remarks are heard about being 'anti-Hindu' and visiting temple after consuming fish, and the discussion starts, and immediately, religious sentiment comes out. In all the cases of moral policing that have happened, has any Hindu girl complained against a Muslim boy about harrasment or misbehaviour? We need to think about it. This is being spread by someone who is not even in the picture on getting influenced by someone in some place. Today a human chain has been organized here. We need to understand why we are dragged to such a situation where a human chain is required."

Mayor Kavita Sanil, Fr Onil D'Souza, DYFI president Muneer Katipalla, former mayor Ashraf, Wilfred and others were present,