The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Shocking

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Saturday, Feb 07, 2009
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Shocking

What Sri Ram Sene leader Pramod Muthalik has said — that his outfit will target couples found dating on Valentine’s Day — is an insult to democracy, the Constitution and the one billion free people of the nation. As a common citizen of the world’s so-called “largest democracy,” I feel helpless. Of what use is democracy to me if I cannot even exercise my freedom to enjoy the company of a friend I like?

Piyush Gupta,

Bangalore

* * *

It is clear that the “immoral police” will be out on the streets of Karnataka on Valentine’s Day to prey on its targets and teach them ‘morals.’ That such audacity can be so blatantly displayed is a matter of shame. Mr. Muthalik derives his authority from the ruling BJP and his utterances point to the bid to saffronise society.

S.V. Venugopalan,

Chennai

* * *

Karnataka Home Minister V.S. Acharya’s response to Mr. Muthalik’s threat that the law will take its course is disappointing. The law is meant to prevent an offender from committing an offence. The police need not wait for an offence to take place when there is a reasonable possibility of its being committed. If the government waits even after the offenders-in-waiting have given a 10-day notice, one would be forced to presume that it tacitly supports them.

M.D. Ravikanth,

Chennai

* * *

Undeterred by the widespread criticism of their attack on women in a Mangalore pub, Mr. Muthalik and his outfit have proudly announced their plan for a fresh round of action. That the Ram Sene leader didn’t flinch while laying out his plan of forcibly marrying off couples found dating is shocking.

Mr. Acharya’s reaction — let them commit the offence and the law will be enforced — is sure to leave the people guessing about the usefulness of laws that seek to prevent crimes.

Sonal Singh,

New Delhi

* * *

The outrage over Sri Ram Sene’s attack on young women at a Mangalore pub does not appear to have produced the desired result. Mr. Muthalik is again in the news threatening couples found dating on Valentine’s Day. Can Mr. Muthalik also tell us how his followers propose to differentiate between boys and girls chatting casually and those “expressing love?” It would be prudent for the Home Minister to initiate preventive measures, instead of allowing the Sene to commit the offence and then enforce the law.

K.D. Viswanaathan,

Coimbatore

* * *

The Karnataka government’s reaction to Mr. Muthalik’s threat is indifferent. Attempts to revive ‘Indianism’ will lead to the death of free will, the foundation on which democracy stands.

Shruti Vijayakumar,

Bangalore

* * *

A few misinformed and misguided individuals with misplaced priorities must not be allowed to hold India’s democratic and secular credentials to ransom.

Aastha Madhur,

Jaipur

* * *

Mr. Muthalik’s plan is absurd. There are enough laws to deal with those who are a nuisance to the public. Who are the Ram Sene activists to tell us how to conduct ourselves? Is not India a democracy where every citizen has the freedom of expression?

J. Rocheus Sukanya,

Chennai

* * *

I fail to understand under what authority the Sri Ram Sene leader has declared that its activists will marry off couples found dating on Valentine’s Day. This is a clear violation of the fundamental rights of the young. The outfit must be banned because its latest declaration is illegal.

Dolashree K. Mysoor,

Bangalore

* * *

Mr. Muthalik’s words should not be seen as a threat. They should be seen as a way of protecting our culture. But the Sri Ram Sene’s plan to force dating couples into marriage or the girl to tie a ‘rakhi’ on her friend’s wrist on Valentine’s Day is the height of absurdity.

R. Thirumalai,

Coimbatore

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