Congress panel submits report on coastal Karnataka communal tensions
Bengaluru, Jun 19 (PTI): A Congress-appointed fact-finding committee has recommended a holistic and multi-pronged approach, including socio-cultural interventions to address the vitiated communal atmosphere prevailing in coastal Karnataka.
The committee headed by Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain on Thursday submitted its report to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
The committee, formed by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), comprises Manjunath Bhandary, V R Sudarshan, and senior leaders Kimmane Ratnakar, Jayaprakash Hegde, N A Harris, and Roji M John.
It examined the developments of the past two decades in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada districts.
Addressing reporters, Hussain said, “We have submitted a confidential report to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who also serves as KPCC president. He will take it up with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Home Minister G Parameshwara, and Law Minister H K Patil.”
He clarified that the panel’s mandate was not to probe specific incidents but to study the overall communal atmosphere in the region, which he described as “vitiated.”
“Admissions to educational institutions have dropped, and economic activities have declined. The Chamber of Commerce has flagged concerns. Business establishments close by 7 pm. Hate speeches and provocations have created an atmosphere of fear.”
Accordiong to Hussain, both the majority and minority communities were contributing to escalating tensions in the coastal belt through their provocative actions.
“A type of vitiated atmosphere is prevailing. So we went there to assess the situation holistically,” he said, adding that the committee has also made key recommendations.
“We’ve suggested administrative actions, socio-cultural interventions, ways to strengthen the party, and political strategies that can be implemented,” he explained.
Underscoring that mere law-and-order measures or transfer of officials will not suffice, the MP said, “The need of the hour is a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach."
Highlighting the region’s legacy, Hussain said the coastal districts were once hubs of literature, music, education, and banking.
“This progressive and vibrant social fabric is now fraying. We’ve suffered immense loss in terms of human and cultural capital,” he lamented.
The report, he said, is aimed at restoring peace and putting coastal Karnataka back on the path of development.
Deputy CM Shivakumar, who received the report in the presence of the media, said he needed time to study it before commenting.
“I have just received it. I will go through the findings and respond later,” he said.
He, however, blamed the BJP and “various sections’ of the society for disturbing the law and order situation in the coastal region.
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Mamata demands PM's apology over 'Bankim da' remark in Lok Sabha
Cooch Behar (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he has insulted novelist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay by calling him "Bankim da".
Addressing a rally in Cooch Behar district, Banerjee said the PM was not even born when the country achieved Independence and yet chose to address one of Bengal's greatest cultural icons casually.
"You did not even show him the minimum respect he deserves. You should apologise for this, to the nation," she said.
The flashpoint was PM's reference to the author during a discussion in Lok Sabha on Monday to commemorate 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram, written by Chattopadhyay.
TMC MP Saugata Roy objected to the use of the suffix 'da' and urged the PM to say 'Bankim babu' instead.
Modi immediately accepted the sentiment, saying, "I will say Bankim 'babu'. Thank you, I respect your sentiments," and asked in a lighter vein whether he could still address Roy as 'dada'.
Targeting the BJP, Banerjee claimed that it will destroy Bengal's culture, language and heritage if it comes to power in the state.
She also claimed that the assembly elections in the state will be declared soon after publication of the final electoral rolls following the SIR exercise, so that no one can challenge it in court.
