Karnataka - Bangalore   

Stop dividing people in the name of religion, says High Court judge

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

In conversation: Judge of the Karnataka High Court D.V. Shailendra Kumar (left) having a word with Veerabhadra Chennamalla Swamiji at the inauguration of a Human Rights Day function in Bangalore on Sunday. With them are (from right) the former Union Minister V. Srinivasa Prasad; president of Vanavasi Women’s Association Jaji Thimmaiah; and the former Lokayukta N. Venkatachala.

BANGALORE: Human rights violations in the country would become more widespread in the globalisation and liberalisation era even as religious fundamentalism gets stronger, cautioned speakers at a Human Rights Day function here on Sunday.

They called on the religious organisations and political parties to stop dividing society for their own gains.

Speakers at the function, organised by Nidumamidi Samsthana, were from a cross section of society and included writers, intellectuals, social workers, jurists and political leaders.

Those who spoke were judge of the High Court of Karnataka D.V. Shailendra Kumar; the former Union Minister V. Srinivas Prasad; the former Lokayukta N. Venkatachala; journalist K.N. Hari Kumar; Director of Action Aid of New Delhi Babu Matthew; president of the women’s wing of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Sunanda Jayaram; and K.G. Nagarajappa, scholar.

Mr. Shailendra Kumar said there were many instances to show that common people had been exploited in the name of religion and god. Religious organisations should, in fact, protect people from being exploited, he said.

Mr. Srinivas Prasad stated that poverty, ignorance and social inequalities were also a form of exploitation and violation of human rights. The Constitution of India had provided ample protection against human rights violation, and the governments should exercise these provisions to protect the people from exploitation.

Mr. Venkatachala said that exploitation had a new dimension with the globalisation process. He said that in the name of development various socio-economic measures were actually snatching away the livelihoods of people.

Land grabbing from the poor, large-scale hoarding and neglect of the socio-economic welfare of the poor were rampant.

Mr. Hari Kumar gave the global perspective of human rights violation in Iraq, Africa and other parts of the globe. Ms. Sunanda Jayaram talked about the human rights violation on women and children. Mr. Matthew gave the view of labour in human rights violation. Veerabhadra Chennamalla Swamiji of Nidumamidi Math critically viewed the socio-economic and political conditions in the country and said that the people would have to be more conscious about their rights and not fall to the “ploys” that political and religious leaders weave around them. Two books were released on this occasion. They were the life and works of Periyar by Hemanna and “Sullu Shristigalu” by Veerabhadra Chennamalla Swamiji.

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