The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Samajotsava celebrations condemned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 24, 2007
ePaper


<SCRIPT language='JavaScript1.1' SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?"> </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <A HREF="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?"> <IMG SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?" BORDER=0 WIDTH=468 HEIGHT=60 ALT="Click Here"></A> </NOSCRIPT>

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Samajotsava celebrations condemned

Special Correspondent

`Opposition to egg scheme part of communal and divisive agenda'

`Opposition to egg scheme is an attack on the rights of the majority by a powerful minority'

Bangalore: Intellectuals, Left party leaders and Dalit activists have condemned what they describe as the Sangh Parivar's attempts to communalise society in the name of Virat Hindu Samajotsava celebrations. The opposition from heads of various maths to the inclusion of eggs in the midday meal scheme for children is also part of the same communal and divisive agenda, they have said.

Speaking to presspersons here on Tuesday, the well-known critic K. Marulasiddappa said though he respected the right of people to hold religious gatherings, the aggressive and confrontationist manner in which the samajotsavas were being held was highly objectionable. To use the picture of the architect of the Constitution, B.R. Ambedkar, alongside that of RSS ideologue M.S. Golwalkar who "had no respect for our federal structure" was appalling, he said.

CPI State secretary Siddanagowda Patil called this an "appropriation done with an eye on the majority vote bank."

The former chairman of the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission Ravivarma Kumar said the Government's volte-face on the inclusion of eggs in the midday meal scheme suggested that the "Government is being run by heads of maths" in the State. He termed the controversy a "precursor to a dictatorial regime" and an "attack on the rights of the majority by a powerful minority." About 97 per cent of children had said they wanted egg as part of their meal, he said.

Mr. Marulasiddappa added that he was surprised by the silence of all political parties on the matter, though it had the potential to be a major electoral topic.

G.N. Nagaraj, CPI(M) State secretary, said his party had visited the areas affected by communal riots in the Shivajinagar area and found that the fear psychosis created by the samajotsava celebrations had fanned communal sentiments there.

`Remove banners'

Saffron banners put up all over Bangalore should be immediately removed and further celebrations should be stopped, he demanded. There were fears about samajotsavas in the coastal region leading to communal flare-ups.

Speaking about the demand for a ban on conversions by many speakers at the samajotsava celebrations, Mavalli Shankar of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti said it was an individual's fundamental right to choose his religion. Bharat Mata, as represented by the samajotsava with a saffron flag in hand, was highly questionable, he said.

The Gandhian Satyavrata, Maruti Manpade of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha, the well-known intellectual H.L. Keshavamurthy and the theatre artiste and activist G.K. Govind Rao were present.

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

Karnataka