Udupi Dist Congress Protests against ABHM for Shooting at Gandhi Effigy
Udupi: As part of a nationwide protest the Udupi district congress along with the district Panchayat Raj Sanghatane held a protest in front of the Gandhi Statue at Ajjarkad, Udupi on Monday, February 4 against the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha whose members aimed a pistol at the effigy of Mahatma Gandhi in order to ‘recreate’ his assassination by Nathuram Godse.
Addressing the protesters former Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said that the action by the ABHM was a highly condemnable act. On 30 January, when the nation commemorated the 71st anniversary of Gandhi’s assassination, the members of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha in Uttar Pradesh, used a pistol to shoot at an effigy of Gandhiji, distributed sweets and garlanded the statue of Nathuram Godse, Gandhiji’s assassin who was a member of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha. The group also burnt the effigy of Mahatma Gandhi and shouted pro-Godse slogans like “Mahatma Godse Zindabad” etc.”
Such incidents show the deep hatred that the people of the Right wing have against Mahatma Gandhi. “These provocative and reprehensible actions, happening in the BJP ruled States take place with the candid and clandestine support given by the ruling party and the same reveals the deep hatred still carried by the right-wing groups against the father of the Nation and his ideas of Secularism, Ahimsa and Brotherhood,” said Sorake.
The BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is only wearing a mask of the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi but in their hearts, they are actually guided by Godse’s principles. The country is still inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and his preachings of peace and non-violence which can never be overshadowed by the action of Godse or his followers. They should be booked for their blatant anti-national act and ABHM should be banned, he said.
Ex MLA Gopal Bhandary, KPCC General Secretary M A Gafoor, KPCC Secretary Veronica Cornelio, District Congress president Janardhan Tonse also spoke on the occasion.
Congress vice president Prakyath Shetty, RGPRS coordinator Roshani Oliver, Youth Congress president Vishwas Ameen, Sathish Ameen Padukere, Yathish Karkera, Kiran Kumar Udyavar, Geetha Wagle, Dr Sunitha Shetty, Y B Raghavendra and others were also present.