Bangalore: Karnataka Komu Sourharda Vedike is organising a rally on November 26 to bring pressure on the Government for maintaining status quo at the Bababudangiri shrine and to protest against communalising the coastal areas. Jnanpith Award winner Girish Karnad and activist Teesta Setalvad will be among hundreds of participants in the rally, which is scheduled to begin at 10.30 a.m. at Malleswaram grounds and end at Jakkarayankere grounds.

Speaking to presspersons, K.L. Ashok, State secretary of the vedike, said ratha yatras and other programmes by the Sangh Parivar in and around Bababudangiri were being organised to "instil fear among the minorities." The JD (S)-BJP coalition had made no effort to put an end to the controversy.

V.S. Sridhar, another member of the vedike, said that communal forces had "misinterpreted" the recent High Court judgement as giving permission to hold the Datta Jayanthi celebrations and Shoba Yatra. "But what the High Court has said is that the Supreme Court has already passed a decision asking that the status quo be maintained. That is why the petition has been disposed of," he said.

Campaigns

In preparation for the rally, vedike has been conducting campaigns in and around Bangalore for a week, in public places such as the main bus stands in Majestic, K.R. Market, Shivaji Nagar and Yeshwanthpur.

The campaign is also on in 14 outlying areas, including Dasarahalli, M.S. Palya, Peenya II Phase, Basappanakatte, Kengeri etc. Vedike activists have also gone to neighbouring towns such as Hoskote, Ramanagara, Channapatna, Devanahalli and Doddaballapur.

The campaign at M.S. Palya (off Jalahalli East) bus stand on late Wednesday night, for instance, had speeches by Syed Kaleemullah of the Karnataka Forum of Dignity, N. Babiah of the People's Democratic Forum, and Radhakrishna of Jagamecchida Maga Rajkumar Abhimanigala Sangha, interspersed with campaign songs on communal amity.

"Those who want to turn the peaceful State of Karnataka into another Gujarat may please go there and leave Karnataka alone," Mr. Kaleemullah said.

The campaigns in the city end on Friday night.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail