Hindu, December 8, 2007
Bageshree S.
Trouble broke out a day after BJP yatra
‘Shila Sethu Ratha Yatra’ was taken out the next day
Seizure of cows bought by Muslims sparked violence
Bangalore: To people used to more horrendous forms of communal violence, a la Gujarat, the communal tension that gripped Tiptur on Tuesday may not seem significant in terms of scale. But it is symptomatic of the Sangh Parivar gaining ground in areas traditionally not regarded its stronghold. This becomes significant given the changing political contours in the State as a mid-term election approaches.
It is worth noting that violence took place a day after the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa’s “Jana Jagruthi Yatra” passed through the town. It preceded the arrival of Shila Sethu Rath Yatra of Sri Rameshwar Ramasethu Samrakshana Samiti on Wednesday.
The incident that sparked off tension, in which vehicles and property were burnt and people injured, was the swift operation of Gorakshana Vedike activists who seized cows bought by Muslim traders at the weekly cattle shandy at Karadalu. While cow transport and slaughter has been a constant point of tension in coastal Karnataka, the incident reveals that outfits like Vedike are fast spreading to other parts of the State.
BJP leader B.C. Nagesh attributed the rise of outfits like the Vedike over the last one year to “greater awareness” among the youth on cow protection because of consistent campaigns by Sangh Parivar organisations and religious heads such as Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati.
Chikkaswamy Gowda, taluk convenor of Democratic Youth Federation of India, countered this by asking: “Farmers are struggling because water and fodder are scarce. Why don’t organisations like Bajrang Dal address such issues instead of targeting Muslim traders?”
Allah Baksh of Centre of Indian Trade Unions added: “The shandy at Karadalu has been there for decades. It is only being targeted recently.” The BJP won 10 seats out of 31 in the municipal elections in September 2007.
“Rich people are now investing in communalising the town,” said local AHINDA leader Suryaprakash Koli. “It is unfortunate that even a section of dalit youth are taken in by the parivar’s campaign,” he said and alleged that CDs with hate speeches were being distributed. A writer based in Tiptur, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that organisations like Gorakshana Vedike were trying to thrust a “hegemonic religious and cultural identity and food habits” on a diverse population. As always, as the larger politics are played out, it is the common man who is hit the most.
Sayyed Taheer, a trader in wood, said: “Our transactions are with Hindus. Trouble like this is the last thing we want.” Sandhya (name changed), a State government employee living in the Muslim-dominated Gandhi Nagar, said that Tiptur was not known for violence and she never felt unsafe in her area.
Mohan, Sardar Basha and Sayyed Aleem, who were hanging around the petty garage gutted in violence in Gandhi Nagar, said that they were apprehensive although peace was restored for the time being. Mohan is from a neighbouring village and comes into town for small trade, while the latter two do mechanical repair by the roadside.
“We are not terrified, but you never know what will happen next,” said Mr. Aleem. A few Muslim leaders said incidents like these were resulting in resentment among Muslim youth and it was “not easy to counsel them to keep peace” when attacked.
An umbrella group of organisations — including DYFI, CITU, AHINDA, Komu Sauharda Vedike, Dalit Sangharsha Samiti and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha — are holding a rally next week in Tiptur in protest against the activities of the Sangh Parivar.
A delegation of Janata Dal (Secular) leaders, headed by Abdul Vakeel and A.V. Ramakrishniah, are meeting the Governor soon.
|
