Dalits-Progressives must unite to protect constitution: Senior journalist Sanath Kumar Belagali
Bengaluru, September 16: Senior journalist Sanath Kumar Belagali said that Dalits and progressive activists should come together to protect the Constitution which has been facing threat in the country.
Speaking on present crisis at a seminar organised by the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti at Doddaballapura on Sunday, he said that the democracy in India was facing threat. Some forces have been conspiring to destroy the Constitution. The life of Indians was at risk. The power of the rich has been oppressing those who have been fighting for justice and life. If the people speak in favour of poor Dalits, naxals and oppressed classes, they were being targeted as naxals. If the intellectuals speak against the oppressive attitudes of the ruling parties, they were being branded as ‘urban naxals’. The government has not arrested those who attacked on Dalits at Bhima Koregaon. But the human rights activists were being arrested, he said.
The government has arrested progressive thinkers and human rights activists and created a false story that they have plotted to kill the prime minister. People who follow Manusmriti have been targeting those who speak for equality, he said.
Buddha, Basavanna and other social reformers had experienced the same torture. Narendra Dabholkar, Dr Govind Pansare, Dr MM Kalburgi, Gauri Lankesh and others were killed in the same way. It was necessary to fight against such incidents, he said
DSS convener Lakshminarayan Nagavara, Bengaluru divisional convener Jeevanahalli Venkatesh, organising convener Kallappa Kamble, leaders Sham Ghatge, Sharanappa Gulabala Doddamani, Shobha Kattimani, Kyalasanahalli Srinivas and others were present.
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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."
