The attack on youth at a homestay in Mangalore rocked both the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly as the Opposition parties took the government to task for being soft on pro-Hindutva organisations that are creating terror in the name of protecting culture.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, the Opposition leader Siddaramaiah demanded that the government ban pro-Hindu outfits such as Srirama Sena, Hindu Jagarana Vedike and Bajrang Dal. “The government should take stern action against such organisations so that inhuman acts like this do not recur and women can move around safely,” he said.
“There is no law and order in the state. Youth attending birthday party are being attacked, a woman was pushed out of moving train and we are witnessing gang-wars. Police have become inactive. Members of Hindu organisations are moving around with swords and guns. Where is the law and order in the state,” he questioned. The Congress and JD(S) members attacked the state for failing to contain Hindutva activists that are spreading terror in the region.
Replying to the debate, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said the government would take stern action against all those involved in the “barbaric act” so that such incidents do not recur.
Reading out from the Home Department report on the incident, the Chief Minister said that the boys and girls had assembled at a homestay to celebrate birthday when they were attacked by a group of 50 miscreants claiming to be members of a Hindu organisation. “Miscreants attacked them with blades, misbehaved with girls and robbed them of gold chains. Local TV journalists who were filming the incident also seem to have been colluded with miscreants,” he said.
The video footage recorded by local TV channel would be used to nab the accused, he said. “Police have been given a free hand to probe the case and bring all the accused to book, irrespective of their association with any organisation,” the CM added.
Meanwhile in the Legislative Council, the Opposition staged a dharna, to discuss the Mangalore incident. The uproar started when Opposition leader S R Patil, demanded that Chairman D H Shankaramurthy should suspend all the official agenda of the House and give permission to initiate preliminary submission on the adjournment motion. However, Shankaramurthy, who was inclined to take up the Question Hour ahead of other businesses, assured the agitating Congress members to allow a debate on the adjournment motion later.
Not satisfied with the chairman’s suggestion, the Congress members trooped into the well of the House and raised slogans against the government. Shankarmurthy did try to strike a peace between both the sides but both the parties stuck to their stands thus forcing him to adjourn the House.
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