‘Devi Nagar’ sparks protests in Bhatkal: Allegations shift from street board to mosque's legality
Bhatkal: Protests continued for third day on Tuesday regarding the installation of a Devinagar board outside the Makkah Masjid at Second Cross on Jali Road here under Jali Patan Panchayat limits in Bhatkal. However, authorities did not grant permission for the installation. Protesters were directed to submit a written memorandum to the Jali Panchayat, which would then decide on the matter.
The controversy arose when, on Sunday, a stone board outside the Makkah Masjid was painted and rewritten as "Devi Nagar," with an attached pole. Mosque representatives alleged that Sangh Parivar workers intentionally sought to hoist saffron flags outside the mosque, a move they vehemently opposed. Subsequently, the pole was removed early Monday morning under police supervision.
Expressing their dissatisfaction, Sangh Parivar workers gathered outside the mosque to protest the pole's removal. Police convinced the protesters to disperse, assuring them of a meeting on Tuesday morning at the Tahsildar office to express their views.
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In a meeting with Jali Panchayat councilors chaired by the Tehsildar on Tuesday morning, it was decided not to permit any board or pole installation outside the mosque. During the meeting it was decided to maintain status quo at the site. Panchayat members also emphasized the potential political motives behind creating tension in the lead-up to the parliamentary elections, urging the police and authorities to thwart such efforts.
Despite the agreed-upon meeting, BJP workers insisting on installing the board gathered outside Makkah Masjid and protested again. They expressed a desire to write "Devi Nagar" at a visible height without hoisting a flag. As they attempted to install the board, the police intervened, leading to verbal clashes. Tehsildar Tippe Swamy, Additional SP CT Jayakumar, Bhatkal DySP Shrikant, and other senior police officials were present during the confrontation.
Additional SP CT Jayakumar urged the protesters to submit their demands in writing or through a memorandum to the Tehsildar and the Panchayat. In response, Sangh Parivar and BJP workers, present during the incident, argued that the mosque's construction alongside a madrassa was illegal, calling for legal action against it.
Failing in their attempt to install the board, protesters marched to the Jalipatan Panchayat office, submitting a memorandum to the chief officer. The memorandum claimed the mosque's illegality, demanding legal action. Meanwhile, BJP leaders held a press conference near the Jali Panchayat, threatening action against other allegedly illegal buildings within its limits if the board installation was not allowed.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
