Mangaluru: A peace committee meet was held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here, on February 27.
Addressing the gathering, DC Ibrahim said that the Dakshina Kannada district is known as intellectuals city. “Educational and medical institutions in the district have created a name for DK at the national and international level. Also, since a few years DK has become famous for the wrong reasons. Communal disturbances have prevailed in the district. Some anti-social elements create communal violence and spoil the peace in the society. People from other states are afraid to come to the our district, which affect development. Many farmers have lost their land. 75% of the SEZ land is lying empty. Industries are not coming up in the district. Our youth are going to other states and countries in search of jobs.” Ibrahim also said that on March 1, “our Hindu brothers are organizing the Hindu Samajotsava and for the smooth functioning of the programme, the district administration has taken all necessary measures.”
He further said that 36 sector magistrates and 195 assistant sector magistrates have been appointed. “Liquor ban will be imposed from 6:00 am on March 1 to 6:00 am on March 2. Two hundred video cameras will be used during the Samajotsava. 500 CCTV cameras have been installed in the district at various places. The RTO has given 75 additional vehicles to the police department. We have also directed all the religious places to install CCTV cameras and flood lights in the area. Section 144 has been imposed in Bajpe, Suratkal, Kulai, Ulaibettu, Karaya and Derlakatte as a precautionary measure. All the revenue and rural development department officials have been drafted to service apart from the 4000 police personnel deployed. 30 KSRP platoons, 10 DAR platoons and 2 RAF companies will also be deployed.” He urged the organizers to take the responsibility for the smooth functioning of the programme and not to allow anyone to create any problems.
District minister in-charge Ramanath Rai speaking on the occasion said that the Mangaluru City has been tagged as a communal sensitive area. “In the past, there have been a number of communal clashes. Some people coming from outside the district deliver inciting speeches to hurt the sentiments of people belonging to other religions. For the smooth functioning of the Samajotsava, we have taken all necessary measures and the district administration is trying to protect the innocent people. Many times people who commit the crime escape and the innocent get caught and are punished. To avoid such situation, the district administration has installed CCTV cameras in 500 places so that the real culprits will be punished. The programme should complete before 5:30 pm since darkness encourages the trouble makers to create problems.”
Speaking on the occasion Kodijal Ibrahim said, “When the Samajotsava was held 6 years ago and when Nagaraj Shetty, Yogish Bhat and Krishna J Palemar requested our support, we whole heartedly supported them by distributing juice and water. This time too we want the Samajotsava to go on smoothly.” He also requested not to bring any outsiders for the Samajotsava who are known to deliver hate speeches.
Rahim Uchil said, “In the name of Samajotsava, speakers from outside the state come to Mangaluru and target the Muslim community. “If I make a mistake blame me and not my religion. If one Muslim makes a mistake, blame the particular person and not the whole community. Anti social elements have created problems in the district but they have not been punished. Infact, the innocent have been arrested. Even in every mosque, the religious heads have already announced to not react to any provocation. If there is anything done against the Muslim community, our leaders along with the police and the law will initiate action against those responsible. The president of the Hindu Samajotsava Samiti is a secular person and he will do justice.”
Vijaynath Shetty speaking on the occasion said, “The Samajotsava is to unite Hindus and not to create any problems. The Samajotsava will go on smoothly.”
MLA J R Lobo speaking on the occasion said, “We should have trust on others, we need to treat all religions equally. On March 1, the Hindu brethren are holding the Samajotsava and we should all work for the success of the programme. If there are any inciting banners displayed which hurt the sentiments of people of other religions, they should be removed. Mangaluru is now known for the wrong reasons. We should work to bring a good name to the district. Humanity is the best religion; without humanity, there will be no meaning for religion.” He also urged the organizers to not allow outsiders to come and deliver provocative speeches. “If they deliver provocative speeches against the instruction from the organizers, kindly allow the police to do their duty and investigate the matter.”
While Ramanath Rai was briefing about various Utsavas, there was some misunderstanding which invited a reaction from M B Puranik. Reacting to the said misunderstanding, he clarified, “We are organizing the Samajotsava to bring Hindus together. We have been treated as second class citizens. We are trying to bring unity among Hindus and Muslims. We want peace and harmony and not appeasement.”
The Minister instructed the removal of some inciting banners put up for Samajotsava, which may have been placed without the knowledge of the organizers.
Police commissioner S Murugan, SP Dr Sharanappa, CEO ZP Tulasi Maddineni, MLC Ivan D’Souza and MLA Moideen Bava were also present.
