Deccan Herald, 17/10/07
Datta Mala campaign: 'Don't permit Sangh Parivar plans'
Various political parties and organisations have demanded that the Dattamala campaign and related programmes being planned by the Sangh Parivar should not be given permission. They also assured to support the district administration for the steps taken to ensure law and order.
The issue was raised at the meeting organised at the DC’s office on Tuesday to collect public opinion with regard to the Sankeertana Yatra.
Congress leader Dr D L Vijay Kumar, BSP district president Radhakrishna and Yusuf Haji expressed opinion that permission must not be given for organising new programmes.
BJP district spokesperson Varasiddhi Venugopal said former minister D B Chandregowda had participated in the Dattajayanthi celebrations organised at Datta peeta last year. Moreover, the district administration had released funds for Dattamala pooja. This year too, for the Sankeertana Yatra, the district administration must extend co-operation, he added.
CPI district secretary Amjad said the Dattapeeta issue still exists as the political parties have failed to use their political will. A permanent solution must be found out for the issue, he suggested.
Ranganath of Bajrang Dal said the Yatra being organised by the Bajrang Dal without having any party affiliations must be given necessary permission. Political parties must stop giving statements in order to play politics, he added. Ruben Moses said the district administration must take necessary steps to ensure peace along with giving permission for the yatra.
Congress city president Venkatesh Naida said a clear decision has to be taken on the issue. Congress district spokesperson M L Moorthi said Bababudangiri must be preserved as a secular place and it is not desirable to give a new face to it. Sangh Parivar and Muslim leaders must change their stand and take steps to dispel the atmosphere of fear, he advised. Praveen said it is not right to create confusion by giving different statements.
The Bajrang Dal has decided to take out a peaceful procession. He also hoped that the district administration will give the required support.
JD(S) district general secretary H H Devraj said people from other districts must not give statements which disrupts peace. The administration must take steps to conduct the programme in an orderly manner and the party will support the administration in this move, he added.
G K Basavaraj of BSP said the programme should not be organised in the city, while K Mohan said a permanent solution with regard to the Dattapeeta issue must be arrived at. Shareef demanded that an atmosphere of fear is building up in the city and suitable steps must be taken.
BJP general secretary C H Lokesh said 79 MLAs from the State will take part in the Dattamala campaign and peace will be maintained at any cost.
Anil of Bajrang Dal said it is unfortunate that Hindus are forced to seek permission for organising their programmes. Ghous Mohiuddin of Komu Sauharda Vedike said new programmes will not be given permission.
If permission is given for pooja and bhajans, problems can arise, Mohammed Ahmed said. Manjunath, Mallika, Harish and Shivanna gave their suggestions.
PRIORITY TO MAINTAIN PEACE
Deputy Commissioner Naveenraj Singh said the Governor will be submitted a report with regard to the developments taking place in connection with the Dattamal campaign.
Speaking at the peace meeting of various political parties and leaders of various organisations held at DC’s office on Tuesday, he said the secretary of Department of Home has already been submitted a report. Suggestions were given to arrive at a permanent solution for the problem and form a committee.
Suggestions were also given on improving tourism in the region, he informed. Peace should prevail in the district and people should live without any fears. Even people from outside the district must be able to come here without apprehensions.
Moreover politics must be set aside and devotion must exist in everyone’s mind, he felt. If people keep faith in the district administration and join hands with the administration, the imbroglio can be solved. Priority is being given to maintaining a peaceful atmosphere and law and order in the city and district, he added.
CRPF, RAF TO BE DEPLOYED
IGP (western range) A M Prasad said arrangements will be made for the Dattamala campaign which will be held on October 20.
Speaking to presspersons after the meeting held with officers with regard to security arrangements on Tuesday, he said the same number of personnel will be deployed as was done in the last two years. Information with regard to the personnel being deployed will be provided within three days.
CRPF and RAF units will be brought in to ensure peace during the campaign. It is also being ensured that the supreme court order is not flouted and the common man does not suffer, he added. District police chief Vipul was also present.
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The Hindu, 17/10/07
It is ‘yatra’ for power, not ‘dharma yatra’: Devanuru
MYSORE: Taking serious objection to the “dharma yatra” campaign of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), president of Sarvodaya Karnataka Party and noted writer Devanuru Mahadeva here on Tuesday accused the BJP of misusing caste and religion to meet its political end.
Addressing presspersons, he said that it was not right on part of BJP leaders to link religion with power. “Let them call it a “yatra for power”, but not as “dharama yatra”, he added.
Objecting to the BJP’s propaganda of “reneging of promise”, Mr. Mahadev said that the BJP had no right to term failure of the Janata Dal (Secular) to transfer power as reneging of promise, as agreement reached by the parties “secretly” had nothing to do with the people. “People were not party to the agreement, and they struck a “deal” to come to power. How can they take it to people’s court? he asked. The Janata Dal (Secular) had betrayed the people 20 months ago, when it struck an alliance with the BJP by sacrificing its long cherished secular credentials and it had no moral right to assert its stand now, he added.
Reacting to some Veerashaiva organisations protesting against the Janata Dal (Secular) not transferring power to the BJP, he said that those who have understood Veearashaivism in letter and spirit would not participate in the protest as Veerashaivism was aimed at uniting people, whereas the BJP’s agenda was “dividing the people and society”, he noted.
Working president of Sarvodaya Karnataka K.S. Puttannaih said that the party was in the process of forming secular forces by keeping the BJP, the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress at bay. A convention of secular forces would be held in the first week of November and political parties, including the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and other secular political parties and Dalit’s and farmers’ organisations would participate .
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The Hindu, 16/10/07
Abhiyan opposed by Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike
BANGALORE: Opposing the Dattamala Abhiyan organised by the Sangh Parivar organisations at Bababudangiri in Chikamagalur district from October 20, the Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike has urged the administration to ban the abhiyan. An anti-Dattamala rally has been organised by the vedike at Chikamagalur on Wednesday and State-wide agitation on October 23.
Speaking to presspersons here on Monday, vedike’s State secretary K.L. Ashok said that a delegation comprising vedike members would meet Governor Rameshwar Thakur seeking a ban on the programmes.
He said that neither the Dattamala Abhiyan nor the Nagara Sankertane being organised at Chikamagalur were traditional festivals. He said: “The abhiyan and sankertane would incite communal feelings.” Mr. Ashok said that the Vishwa Hindu Parishath (VHP) and Bajarang Dal were trying to replace the Sufi tradition of Bababudangiri with an artificial celebration that lacks traditional value.
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The Hindu, 16/10/07
Steps taken to maintain law and order at Bababudangiri: Governor
Religious rights of the people will be protected, says Rameshwar Thakur
D.B. Chandre Gowda seeks ban on the controversial ‘Shoba Yatra’
‘Datta Mala Abhiyan’ to be launched from October 24
BANGALORE: Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Monday said that the State administration would take all steps to protect the religious rights of the people and maintain law and order at the famous Bababudangiri shrine in Chikmagalur district where Datta Jayanthi celebrations would be held in December.
“Necessary and appropriate action will be taken to maintain peace. The matter will be looked into,” Mr. Thakur told presspersons.
Earlier, the former Law and Parliamentary Minister D.B. Chandre Gowda met the Governor at the Vidhana Soudha and submitted a memorandum seeking a ban on the controversial “Shoba Yatra,” which is organised as a precursor to the Datta Jayanthi celebrations.
In 2004 and 2005, the N. Dharam Singh Government did not allow the Shoba Yatra to take place. The Kumaraswamy Government too had banned the yatra in 2006.
Mr. Chandre Gowda told presspersons that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bajrang Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party activists had decide to launch “Datta Mala Abhiyan” from October 24.
The Sangh Parivar plans to take out the Shoba Yatra in Ckikmagalur would create law and order problem. It was only in recent years that the Shoba Yatra had been organised. Its larger aim is to mobilise people and then take them in a procession all the way to Bababudangiri during the Datta Jayanthi celebrations. A few days ago, BJP MP H.N. Ananth Kumar had given a statement in Chikmagalur that the party would hold the Datta Jayanthi celebrations in a grand manner in December, Mr. Gowda said.
Mr. Gowda alleged that the Sangh Parivar was determined to transform the Bababudangiri shrine, a Sufi dargah that has for centuries been a place of common worship, into a Hindu temple complete with idols and Brahmin priests.
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