Ministers and Congress MLAs from Dakshina Kannada have affirmed their commitment to maintain communal harmony in the district and take strict action against those breaching peace.
They made the pledge while participating in a meeting organised by the Karnataka Komu Souhdarda Vedike here on Sunday.
District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai said his commitment to safeguard communal harmony in the district remained intact. “I am against individuals and organisations who indulge in activities that disturb peace. They may belong to a majority community or a minority community. I have been demanding firm action against such people. This is what has led people to repose faith in me.”
Mr. Rai said he has asked Home Minister K.J. George to take disciplinary action against jurisdictional police inspector if cases of moral policing are reported. “Police should prevent occurrence of moral policing or face action,” he said.
Mr. Rai said he has been opposing the Karnataka Prevention of Cow slaughter and Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 2010. “I had to fight against a party colleague who was in favour of this Bill. He also campaigned against me in the Assembly election,” Mr. Rai said.
Mr. Rai said he lived in the same constituency as RSS leader Kalladaka Prabhakar Bhat. “This is the place where a lot of conspiracies were hatched against me. I have faced it earlier and I will continue to face it.” Mr. Rai said he will not tolerate any person or organisation that brain washes people and engages them in acts that disturb communal harmony. “I will stand by my word regardless of what happens to me,” he said.
Puttur MLA T. Shakuntala Shetty said instances of blocking vehicles carrying cows and attacking people on board would end if the assaulters are made responsible for caretaking of the animals. MP and Senior Congress Leader Oscar Fernandes admitted that Congress had failed in speaking out strongly against acts that have damaged the secular fabric of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. “But this cannot go on and we cannot be mute spectators,” Mr. Fernandes said.
Udupi district in-charge Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said religious leaders with secular credentials should be brought on stage to project the secular fabric of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader, Mangalore South MLA J.R. Lobo, Mangalore North MLA B.A. Mohiuddin Bava participated.
