After ideological bankruptcy, RSS takes guns to face opponents: Dinesh Amin Mattu
Freedom of Expression convention
Bengaluru, September 5: “Both RSS and BJP have seen bankruptcy in their ideologies. So, instead of sorting out their ideological problems through dialogues, they have been opposing their opponents through guns and bullets”, senior journalist Dinesh Amin Mattu said.
Speaking at a session in Freedom of Expression Convention here on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the murder of Gauri Lankesh, Mattu said that the RSS would complete 100 years in the next seven years. In those long years, the RSS has failed to produce a thinker and a scholar. So, unable to confront with the progressive ideologies through dialogues, it has been opposing through guns and bullets. “According to my opinion, the police have worked so professionally and swiftly in Gauri Lankesh murder case after Gandhi. As a result, the details on the killings of Kalburgi, Dabholkar and Pansare are disclosing. Interestingly, the investigation into the Gauri Lankesh murder is seeing its logical ending”, he said.
Rationalist Narendra Nayak said that “let the communal forces prepare hit lists to kill us. We should not backtrack from our work and agenda. We should not stop speaking fearing about the communal forces”, he said.
Critic MS Ashadevi, Gauri Balaga convener KL Ashok and others spoke on the occasion.
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Chandrashekhar Swamiji apologises for remark on denying voting rights to Muslims
"If my statement has upset our Muslim brothers, I deeply regret it."
Bengaluru: Kumara Chandrashekharanath Swamiji, head of the Vishva Okkaliga Mahasansthana Mutt, has expressed regret over his controversial statement suggesting that "Muslims should be denied voting rights."
In a press release, Swamiji clarified, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
He further added, "Okkaligas are inherently tolerant of all religions. We have always treated people of every faith equally. Our Mutt maintains cordial relations with Muslims, and they frequently visit us. Similarly, we attend their weddings and other joyous occasions. Hence, there is no intolerance towards this community." Swamiji appealed to the public to disregard the controversy surrounding his remark.
The controversial statement was made during a farmers' rally, ‘Raita Gharjana,’ organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Karnataka Pradesh, at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Swamiji had said, "A law should be enacted to deny voting rights to the Muslim community, and the Wakf Board should be abolished."
The remark drew widespread criticism from political leaders and the public alike. Following the backlash, Swamiji issued his apology, stating, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
