If Revellers can Party till 2 am on NYE in B’luru, Why not M’luru?

If Revellers can Party till 2 am on NYE in B’luru, Why not M’luru?

If Revellers can Party till 2 am on New Year’s Eve in Bengaluru, Why not Mangaluru? Kudos to Activist Vidya Dinkar for her fight and stand against increase in right-wing ImMoral Policing/rowdyism in Dakshina Kannada; and also against the saffron groups demands regarding curbing New Year Celebrations. Mangaluru needs more women activists like Vidya Dinkar to fight against such Moral Policing and increase in anti-social activities by right-wing elements.

Mangaluru: Revellers can usher in 2018 at pubs, bars and restaurants in Bengaluru till 2am, one hour beyond the usual permitted time for nightlife. Pubs, bars and restaurants are allowed to remain open till 1am through the year in Bengaluru. Last year too, New Year’s revelry was allowed till 2am. If that’s the case, why not also allow Mangalureans to party until 2 am -Isn’t Mangaluru part of Karnataka too? Just because a bunch of goons belonging to couple of saffron organization have raised their objections of having late night parties on New Year’s Eve, our beloved Police Commissioner T R Suresh has issued few restrictions on the revellers and establishments pertaining to NYE celebrations. NYE party should end before 11 pm on 31 December night say Bajrang Dal and VHP activists-Is is for real or just a joke?

I think they are just joking. What’s the fun in winding up the celebration at 11pm, when revellers want to usher NY 2018 at the stroke of midnight-that makes sense, and not 11 pm which totally makes NO SENSE? Looking at all the decisions and restrictions imposed by the Law enforcement authorities in the City, indicates that it is the Bajrang Dal and VHP mafia elements who control this city and not civic administration and the police. Bah Humbug! Police are to protect and allow the citizens to have a democratic life, and not tell them what to do and what not to do. Decades ago NYE party in Kudla used to go until the wee hours or till early morning, but all of a sudden with the invasion of saffron groups the fun and frolic of revellers are stolen away. This shows the failure of police department to provide security to citizens against increase in right-wing ImMoral Policing/rowdyism, and atmosphere of fear during New Year due to Bajrang Dal/ VHP threats.

Members of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad submitting memorandum to PC T R Suresh

Raising their voices and standing up against such threat by BD/VHP, bold and young citizens of the City namely Shwetha Rasquinha, Aman Ahmed, K Gopika, Vinod Mascarenhas, Kishore Attavar, Sanjan, Abdulla, Angel, Akhilesh, Joel Pinto, and Trescilla Johnas under the strong leadership of Vidya Dinker belonging to “Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development” met PC TR Suresh and submitted a memorandum regarding curbing New Year Celebrations by BD/VHP. (Read report: http://www.mangalorean.com/provide-security-fearless-atmosphere-new-year-celebrations-cfmd/) Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Vidya Dinker said, “Regarding New Year Celebrations unmistakably reveals that the police department has completely abdicated its responsibility to protect the good citizens of Mangaluru from anti‐social elements who are bent on disrupting social harmony. We object to the tone and tenor of the police advisory which is offensive to the dignity and civic rights of the Mangaloreans who have every right to celebrate New Year.”

“Going through the contents in the memorandum submitted earlier to the PC by BD/VHP, and its overall spirit leaves us in no doubt that the Police Department has decided to act as an enforcer of the unreasonable demands and diktats of these two saffron groups. In fact, the advisory puts so many stiff conditions on the citizens and the event organizers that instead of instilling confidence among the citizenry, it seems to make it impossible to celebrate New Year in any meaningful way. 12:00 midnight as the deadline for concluding any public New Year events by the PC-this is like making a mockery of the citizens at this very moment (12:00 midnight) marks the onset of the New Year. While Bengaluru Police are allowing 2:00 a.m. as the deadline for NYE party, there is no reason for our City Police to discriminate against its citizens other than their own incompetence or reluctance in dealing with goons belonging to right wings outfits” added Vidya.

Members of Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development submitting memorandum to
Police Commissioner through DCP Law and Order Hanumantharaya.

She further said, “Despite Bajrang Dal and VHP issuing open threats, Mangaluru City Police have not given any assurance of protection to the citizens against ‘vigilante’ goondaism on New Year night. In fact, while the aforementioned police advisory imposes a stiff condition on citizens, it contains not even a single word of caution to these immoral policing groups against interfering in the New Year celebrations or taking the law into their own hands. They have also made no efforts to curb their activities, secure bonds from those issuing threats/known offenders or to place potential troublemakers under preventive custody. The above situation has caused a general fear psychosis and needless trauma for the citizens who were planning to celebrate New Year in a relaxed and enjoyable way. Many organizers of New Year events are in limbo and people are scared to attend New Year parties. “

Very much disappointment over the decision taken by the law enforcement authorities in Mangaluru, Vidya said, ” We are deeply disappointed with the Mangaluru City Police. The Mangalore region was notorious for immoral Police goondaism of right-wing outfits. This was one of the reasons for the huge victory of Congress Party in the previous assembly elections as people had placed their hopes in the Congress party to curb right-wing mafia activities. Increasing incidences of ImMoral Policing are being reported since the past few months and the police department is doing nothing to curb it. Though Congress government has given us a brief spell of peace, we are alarmed to see anti-social elements once again attempting to take charge of the city and dismayed to observe the inability of the police to respond effectively to its growing menace to the public. Citizens should raise their voices and fight for democracy and their rights”.

Apart from members of Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development submitting a memorandum to State Home Minister, Police Commissioner, they have also submitted the copy of the memorandum to- B Ramanath Rai, Hon’ble District In-Charge Minister, DK; JR Lobo, MLA, Mangalore South; Minister UT Khader; MLC Ivan D’souza; The Deputy Commissioner, DK; and Superintendent of Police, Dakshina Kannada. Hope a positive decision will be taken by all these concerned persons in the interest of the citizens of Mangaluru, so that they can usher New Year 2018 in jolly mood and not in fear.

In the meantime, few of the organizers of NYE bash at their establishment speaking to Team Mangalorean said that they are not worried about such threats by BD/VHP, instead carry on their planned NYE parties as planned. Such threats from saffron outfits happen every year, but still, NYE parties have taken place smoothly without any untoward incidents. Dane D’souza, the secretary of Mangalore Round Table 115 who are hosting an NYE party called “Reflections” for a good cause said, ” We have been hosting ‘Reflections” since many years, and we never had any problems. Our guests are predominately a decent family crowd, and we stick to the time directed by the authorities to end the party by midnight or so. We expect the police to give us the required protection so that the event goes on smoothly without any intervention from miscreants”. (Read report: https://www.mangalorean.com/usher-new-year-mrt-115-reflections-ultimate-party-charitable-cause/)

Peter Nirmal- General Manager of Hotel Taj Gateway hosting the “Johnnie Walker New Year Bash” said, ” Every year our guests for the NYE bash are the best cream of the society. We always follow the guidelines issued by the Excise and police department. Even though certain people have threatened to spoil the celebrations happening in town, we have taken precautionary steps and communicated with the police so that the NYE celebrations at our facility goes on smoothly, therefore our patrons are requested not to worry. Come and be a part of our New Year celebrations, and ring in the NY 2018 happily” (Read report: http://www.mangalorean.com/celebrate-new-year-at-hotel-taj-gateway-with-unlimited-johnnie-walker-bl/)

In conclusion, no matter what, threat from saffron outfits, on no threat- you gotta do what you wanna do to usher New Year, because New Year is a time for celebration, and is indeed an occasion to ring out the old and ring in the new with friends and dear ones. New Year party with its entire sheen and excitement is the perfect occasion for a fresh start whilst making the New Year Eve an ideal representation of color, fervor, zest and enthusiasm. It is that time of the year again when the old goes away and new sets in! It is time to welcome the greatest year in the history of mankind yet! It is a time to celebrate the legacy of an icon! It is a time to live, love and dance! And the best part is that everyone can celebrate responsibly in the name of peace, love and dance! So DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY-CELEBRATE NEW YEAR EVE LIKE YOU HAVE DONE ALWAYS IN THE PAST.

Disclaimer: The information and views set out in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of mangalorean.com and mangalorean.com does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

Also Read Related Articles:

• Provide Security and Fearless Atmosphere for New Year Celebrations – CFMD

• VHP and BD Objects New Year Party in Pubs and Hotels, Submits Memorandum to Police Commissioner

• Celebrate New Year at Hotel Taj Gateway with Unlimited ‘Johnnie Walker BL’

• Usher New Year at MRT-115 ‘Reflections’- an Ultimate Party for a Charitable Cause