Hindus, women real victims of right-wing's politics: Sasikanth Senthil
'Manava Ratna' Award to Senthil, 'Seva Ratna' to K S Nisar Ahmed, 'Souharda Ratna' to Fr. Martis
Udupi, November 10: Thiruvallur MP and former IAS officer Sasikant Senthil has voiced concerns that Hindus and women are among the most affected by the rise of right-wing politics in India. He made these remarks while receiving the 'Manava Ratna' award at a ceremony organized by the Udupi District Muslim Okkuta on Sunday, held at the Basel Mission Memorial Auditorium.
In his address, Senthil argued that although Muslims are often seen as targets of right-wing politics, Hindus and women face serious consequences as well. "Eighty percent of Hindus have enjoyed respect and rights after the constitution came into effect," he stated. He added that the objectives of right-wing forces include undermining the Constitution and dividing the country through fear-based politics. According to Senthil, a minority of 20% seeks to control and diminish equality in society, contrasting with 80% of Hindus who have traditionally benefitted from constitutional rights and access to education.
Senthil warned that right-wing politics operates not on hate alone but primarily through fear, manipulating insecurities to sway voters. "This fear-driven approach fuels societal conflicts, which eventually become dangerous for everyone," he said, adding that it is the responsibility of all, especially the majority community, to oppose such divisive politics by upholding constitutional values. He emphasized that the silence of the majority is a significant factor in the growth of right-wing politics, which must be confronted to protect India’s unity.
Dr. Purushottama Bilidmale, President of the Kannada Development Authority, spoke at the event, acknowledging the longstanding contributions of Muslims in fostering communal harmony in India. He noted that a lack of awareness about India’s inclusive culture has led to the spread of misconceptions. "Our history has a strong foundation in unity," he stated, urging society to collectively work towards preserving harmony.
Abdulla Kunhi, Chancellor of Yenepoya University, inaugurated the event, emphasizing the significance of inter-community relationships in building a strong, harmonious society. He stressed that caste, religion, and language should not hinder friendship among communities, which is essential for sustaining national unity.
Yasin Malpe, President of the Udupi District Muslim Okkuta, expressed concern about the systematic spread of hatred in society, particularly against Muslims. He argued that media platforms are being used to sow religious discord among youth and school children. "An entire community is being targeted for the wrongs of individuals, which hinders the potential success of such friendly gatherings," he said, advocating for initiatives that foster community connections and mutual understanding.
The conference recognized distinguished activists and leaders for their contributions. Sasikant Senthil was awarded the 'Manava Ratna' award, K S Nisar Ahmed, a prominent NRI businessman and well known philanthropist from Karkala, received the 'Seva Ratna' award, and Udupi priest Fr. William Martis was presented with the 'Souharda Ratna' award.
Other notable individuals honored at the event included Dr. Gananath Ekkar for his contributions to literature, former Udupi JPM President Sarasu D. Bangera, Udupi District Women's Union's former President Sarla Kanchan, Dalit leader Annappanakre, and social workers Nithyananda Ukkadu and Hasinar Kodi Kundapura.
The award recipients—Senthil, Ahmed, and Fr. Martis—each donated their award funds to local activists. Senthil’s amount was directed to social activist Nithyananda Ukkadu, Ahmed’s to Annappa Nakre, and Fr. Martis’s to social worker Hasinar Kodi.
During his speech, Senthil urged the community to defend the Constitution as a means to counter right-wing agendas. "The fight isn’t between Hindus and Muslims; it’s about those who believe in the Constitution and those who don’t," he remarked. He underscored that the survival of citizens’ rights depends on the protection of constitutional principles, which he believes will empower a majority of Indians.
The event also featured a Quran recitation by Hafiz Yunus, a friendship song by Shankar Das and his band, and a prayer song by teachers from Hude Salihat School. The Union District General Secretary Idrees Hoode delivered a vote of thanks, while Dr. Jamaluddin Hindi welcomed attendees and narrated the program.
Bilidmale closed the event by stating that forces disrupting harmony are true "traitors," urging citizens to protect the cultural heritage of unity. "Friendship is not imported but is an intrinsic part of our land," he said, calling for a collective effort to rebuild and secure the future of the country and its children.
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CPI(M) alleges attempt to cover up Kudupu mob lynching by Mangaluru Commissionerate Police
Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Committee of CPI(M) has alleged that the Mangaluru Commissionerate Police is deliberately attempting to cover up the recent mob lynching incident that occurred in Kudupu. The CPI(M) claims that the FIR registered in the case itself serves as strong evidence of this attempt.
The incident took place at Samrat Ground, Kudupu, around 3 PM on April 27, where an unidentified person was reportedly lynched by a mob. Within an hour, the information had reached the Vamanjoor Police Station. By approximately 5 PM, police officers arrived at the scene, where they found the victim’s body, which had been brutally assaulted. The police were already aware of the full details by then, and the Commissioner was also informed.
However, for various reasons, including the involvement of key accused individuals like Ravindra Nayak and Manjunath, both said to be close aides of local BJP leaders, the police allegedly decided to weaken or even suppress the case. The fear of national backlash and reputational damage to the Commissioner reportedly contributed to this decision.
As part of this cover-up, the police allegedly made Manjunath, one of the primary accused in the mob lynching, file a complaint reporting the discovery of an "unidentified body" and registered an Unnatural Death Report (UDR). Even though the police were fully aware of the incident, they issued a Lookout Circular suggesting the victim might have died due to substance abuse or after a fall, downplaying visible injuries as “minor scratches,” said Muneer Katipalla, Secretary of the CPI(M)'s Dakshina Kannada District Committee.
When media personnel approached the Police Commissioner for information and clarification, they were simply told to "wait and not believe in rumours." The Commissioner remained silent for 36 hours. It was only after political leaders and activists raised their voices on April 28, and the issue started trending on social media, that the police agreed to conduct a post-mortem. Based on the report, they finally registered an FIR under murder and mob lynching sections—32 hours after the incident.
The second complainant in the FIR was Keshav, reportedly a close associate of the same communal gang involved in the lynching. According to his statement, the victim was allegedly shouting “Pakistan Zindabad” while running toward the field, which prompted Manjunath, Sachin, and others to believe he was anti-national. They chased him, assaulted him with sticks and kicks, and killed him. Keshav further claimed he tried to stop them but was threatened and left the spot. He only learned later that Manjunath had filed the police complaint.
The CPI(M) has raised serious questions about the entire sequence of events within those critical 32 hours. Why was the initial complaint filed by one of the accused? Why did the police not take suo moto action? Why was a weak UDR filed despite full knowledge of the lynching? Why did the Commissioner remain silent for 36 hours? And why did the second FIR rely on a communal narrative involving “Pakistan” only after public pressure mounted?
Muneer Katipalla demanded a high-level probe into the conduct of the police. He said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a senior, impartial IPS officer from outside the district must be formed. He also demanded disciplinary action, including suspension, against Vamanjoor SHO Shivaprasad and Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal for dereliction of duty and alleged complicity in the attempted cover-up.
Muneer Katipalla warned that unless these demands are met and justice is ensured, public trust in law enforcement will continue to erode.
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