Udupi: Muthalik hits out at PFI, to organize ‘Bhatkal Chalo’ rally

Phalgun Krushna paksha Panchami, Kaliyug Varsh 5116

“There were intelligence reports about the chances of clashes erupting during the PFI rally, but despite this, the government gave permission,” he alleged.

Hitting out at the PFI, he said, “PFI is an anti-national and anti-social body. The chief minister of Kerala has given information to the centre that PFI has links with SIMI. In Kerala PFI activists cut the hand of a teacher and in Mysuru they kidnapped and murdered students. In Belgaum, during their rally, PFI activists chanted ‘Pakistan zindabad’ and ‘RSS murdabad’. Thirteen PFI activists were arrested for this.

“When this is the situation, the Congress government should not have given permission for PFI rally in Shivamogga. I strongly condemn this,” he said.

He also condemned the week-long ban on the entry of VHP chief Pravin Togadia into Udupi and said that it reflected the ‘Hitler policy’ of the state government.

“It is not right to ban leaders to prevent clashes. There were clashes in Shivamogga and Gangolli but instead of arresting people responsible for those incidents, the government is banning leaders. It is unconstitutional,” he said.

Muthalik also called for a central probe into Bhatkal town and said, “Bhatkal should be investigated by the centre. After the recent Bengaluru blast three persons were arrested from Bhatkal and explosives were seized. It looks like Bhatkal has links with Pakistan.

“In 1992 when there were communal clashes, 17 Hindus were killed in Bhatkal and curfew was imposed there for three months. The Congress government was in power at that time. Justice Jagannath Shetty Commission was formed and after three years of investigation, it submitted its report to the government. The BJP which was in opposition had urged for action but the Congress government did not respond. After BJP government came to power in the state, I met Dr V S Acharya who was the home minister then, and urged him to take action on the report, but he too did not. Nobody was interested in the security of the state, only politics was important for them,” he said.

Announcing his plans to create awareness on the Bhatkal issue, he said, “In the last week of April I will take a ‘Bhatkal Chalo’ rally from Bengaluru on the theme ‘wipe out terrorism, save India’. Bhatkal has turned into mini Pakistan – weapons are brought from Pakistan and stocked in Bhatkal. It is dangerous. I want to create awareness on this and alert the nation.”

When reporters asked if he would be attending the VHP Hindu Samajotsava programme in Udupi on March 9, he said he has another programme to end at the same time and hence will not be free.

Referring again to the ban on Togadia, he said, “When Pravin Togadia’s entry was banned, BJP leader Eshwarappa had asked if Karnataka was in Pakistan. In Goa the BJP government has banned Sri Rama Sene – I want to ask if Goa is in Afghanistan. Our outfit is not there in Goa and we cannot protest there. Is the BJP government in Goa afraid that if we are active there, we will protest against the drug mafia and immoral activities happening there?”

He welcomed the ban on beef in Maharashtra and congratulated its government. He also welcomed the move to revoke reservation to Muslims in Maharashtra. “The centre should bring a law to ban cow slaughter. It will help the economy and enable the farmers to have better livelihoods.”

Source : Daiji World