District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai asked the police to be tough and take action as per the law if there were any speeches hurting religious sentiments in the Hindu Samajotsava on March 1. The police will be given a free hand to take action against those disturbing peace, however powerful s/he might be.
Mr. Rai said this at a peace committee meeting held at the office of Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim on Friday. The meeting was held in light of Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Hindu Samajotsava scheduled on March 1.
Former BJP MLA N. Yogish Bhat said police should be impartial in taking action against persons disturbing peace. “There have been occasions where innocents have been arrested and real perpetrators have been let free. Though the (district in-charge) Minister says he is not interfering in police action, does he touch his heart and say it,” Mr. Bhat said.
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Irked by this, Mr. Rai said, “Persons commenting against me should review their own actions when they were in power.” Mr. Rai reiterated that police will be tough against those violating conditions imposed on the conduct of the event. “However powerful he or she might be, action will be taken. There will be no interference from us,” he said and added that in the past he had been questioned over reluctance in taking action against a leader.
In-charge president of Dakshina Kannada Pradesh Congress Committee Ibrahim Kodijal asked the event organisers not to make speeches that hurt sentiments of other communities. Democratic Youth Federation of India Dakshina Kannada unit president Dayanand Shetty asked people not be carried away by speeches made at the event. Activist Suresh Shetty asked organisers to remove banners hurting religious sentiments.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad South Region Unit president M.B. Puranik said the event would discuss about issues and concerns of Hindus. Mr. Puranik said while speaking on such issues, some might be provocative, which, he said, was difficult to screen. Mr. Puranik said they intend to conduct the event in peace.
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Mangaluru Police Commissioner S. Murugan said arrangements had been made to ensure peaceful conduct of the event. He said the police were prepared to respond within 10 minutes of trouble, if any, reported in the city and district. Arrangements have been made to provide security for all the places of worship in the city.
Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, Superintendent of Police Sharanappa S.D., MLAs J.R. Lobo and Mohiudin Bava and MLC Ivan D’Souza were present.