Accused along with Mastermind should be Arrested for Communal Harmony – Rai

Accused along with Mastermind should be Arrested for Communal Harmony in the District – Rai

Mangaluru: “Dakshina Kannada is an intellectuals city and many have worked for the development of the district. Because of their hard work, our DK has become a model district in the country but in the recent past, we have seen many communal disturbances taking place here. Since my youth days, I have worked for the development of the district. I would like to request the people of this district to live in harmony and peace and not to heed any false rumours. Let us all join hands to strengthen communal harmony in the district”, said the District Minister In-charge B Ramanath Rai in a press meet held at the DCC office, Mallikatta here on June 27.

Addressing the mediapersons Ramanath Rai said, “In DK at Karopady the Gram Panchayat member was hacked to death, before the Eid a youth was assaulted and on June 21 Ashraf Kalayi was brutally murdered. In the social media rumours are being spread, people should not heed to such false rumours. The part of a video of my conversation with a Police officer has gone viral. When I was in Bantwal IB, a delegation visited me to speak about the Kalladka violence issue. When there was communal disturbance, I called the SP to know about the situation. At that time SP said that he was in Bantwal and said that he would come and see me. Since I was hurt by many incidents of communal violence, I had asked the SP to take action against those who deliver inciting speeches. It is because of the inciting speeches communal violence takes place in the district, and there are some people who intentionally create communal violence.”

Rai further said, “In Kalladka the person who was involved in the stabbing case was also involved in other two cases. After the communal violence in Benjanapadav Ashraf was killed. The prime accused in Ashraf murder case was sharing the dais with Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat in a press meet which was against me. Bhuvith, Harish and Ratnakar Shetty are involved in murder cases. In the Ismail murder case, Bhat was acquitted but his involvement was there. Ramanath Rai does not support criminals. I respect people of all communities. I want people to live in harmony and peace. I have done many developmental works in my constituency. The Sangha Parivar cannot digest communal harmony in Bantwal, so they are trying to create communal violence.”

Recalling the words of Jawaharlal Nehru, Rai said, “If a person from the minority is communal he is dangerous to the community, but a person from the majority community is communal he is dangerous for the country. In politics, media, police department etc majority of the people are from the Majority. Minority and majority communities both criticise me, I am very happy that people from both the communities criticise me, which means that I am a secular person. The Sangh Parivar says that for the vote bank I please the minority community. But in fact, I concentrate on the development work of the district and at any cost, I will work for the development of the district. Being the district minister I want communal harmony in the district and I had spoken to the SP in that regard. Continuous communal violence in my constituency has hurt me a lot and I had shared my feelings with the SP. For me, my life is not important but I want harmony and peace in the district. I have received a number of threat calls from the underworld but I am not afraid.”

Rai also said, “Those who involved in murder or communal violence should be punished. The police are identifying the masterminds in the case and they will be arrested. I will surely order the officers to take action against those involved in the murder along with the masterminds. In the Jalil Karopady murder case the accused has been absconding and the police are searching for him.”

When asked who is delivering inciting speech, Rai said, “If anyone wants to become a leader easily, they will become leaders overnight if they deliver an inciting speech. In Sangh Parivar, there are many who are delivering inciting speeches.”

When asked about the video of the conversation with the SP which had gone viral Rai said, “When the delegation came to me to discuss the Kalladka incidents, I rang up the SP to discuss the matter. Since the SP was in Bantwal at that time, he came to meet me to the Inspection Bungalow. Someone recorded the conversation and only a part of it is shown targeting me. I still say, anyone who is a mastermind in any murder should be arrested.”

MLA J R Lobo, District Youth Congress President Mithun Rai, Ibrahim Kodijal, Padmanabh Naringana, Shalet Pinto, and others were also present.