Under pressure from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad local unit, a Congress MLA from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district is now considering removing the name of Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim as the host on an invitation card for annual festivities of a temple administered by the State government.
The only reason for the demand is that he is Muslim.
The episode began with cadres from the VHP local unit raising objections to the invitation card of the annual car festival of Mahalingeshwara temple, Puttur, from April 10, bearing the name of Mr. Ibrahim as the host.
Following this, Puttur MLA Shakuntala Shetty, who was earlier with the BJP, on Tuesday declared that she was considering bringing out a new invitation card that just indicates the designation — the Deputy Commissioner — to skirt any controversy.
Ms. Shetty told The Hindu , “I do not want the festival to be disrupted on this issue in this communally-sensitive region.” Claiming she did not yield to any pressure, Ms. Shetty admitted that the turn of events would hurt Mr. Ibrahim, known for his tough and honest stand as an administrator.
“A non-issue is being made an issue. It has really saddened me. It has also cast a slur on the image of the region known for communal amity in celebrating festivals of different religions.
A.B. Ibrahim,
Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada District
There is nothing wrong in the invitation that has been printed with A.B. Ibrahim’s name. It is lack of judgement on the part of Shakuntala Shetty who has come under pressure from VHP.
B. Ramanath Rai,
Minister In-charge for Dakshina Kannada
