“Let’s make Mangalore a better place to live”: Jaago Mangalore Assn.

“Let’s make Mangalore a better place to live”: Jaago Mangalore Assn.

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Aug 15, 2012: Jaago Mangalore Association in cooperation with ‘Arise Mangalore’ and various voluntary bodies is organizing a mass campaign against the atrocious attack on college students at Padil. The campaign will commence on Thursday, 16th August 2012 and conclude with protest March on 21st August 2012, said Vijayanath Shetty, Chief Co-ordinator, Jaago Mangalore Association. 

On 16th August 2012 a road show will be held at 5:00 p.m. at DC Office where candles will be lit and video clippings of messages by eminent people will be projected on LCD screen. Similar road shows will be held at various junctions every day for 5 days followed by Protest March on 21st August 2012 at 4:00 p.m., from Jyothi Circle to Nehru Maidan, where eminent personalities will address the gathering.

 

This protest is part of Jaago Mangalore Association’s broad based campaign ‘Let’s make Mangalore a better place to live’ to improve the quality of life in the city. The campaign reflects the association’s long term vision to address citizen’s issues for improving bad roads, enhancing civic facilities, protection of civic liberties etc.

The protest aims to continue the focus on the aftermath of Padil attack and see that issue is not forgotten and some concrete steps are taken to punish the guilty and avert repetition of similar incidents. 

“The unprovoked attack on teenage boys and girls at Padil is a deplorable blot on our democratic values which are enshrined in our Constitution,” says Vijaynath Shetty, the chief co-ordinator of Jaago Mangalore Association. “This outrageous trend of forcibly and illegally thrusting their bigoted opinions on hapless citizens in the name of ‘culture’ would not have happened if the anti-social elements behind the earlier attacks were not encouraged by the silence of the majority.

It is high time we called the bluff and put an end to this repeated charade.”

Protestors are further requested to wear Gandhi Cap, Black Band and carry a Torch during Protest March on 21st August 2012 to signify this peaceful protest. 

It may be recalled that Jaago Mangalore Association had earlier given a call to the authorities to give satisfactory progress on the case and assure strict action against the culprits by 15th August, Independence Day. 

Though the police have promptly arrested 22 accused individuals, the recent unintelligible statements made by the Karnataka State Women’s Commission President Manjula, followed by her equally shocking interim report, effectively indicting the victims and giving a clean chit to the culprits raises serious doubts about the future course of the case. 

“It is unfathomable what logic was used or what method of investigation was employed by the Karnataka State Women’s Commission in arriving at such a preposterous conclusion. Apart from completely deviating from their terms of reference regarding the enquiry, the commission’s lop sided conclusions have given rise to speculation about its motives and we appeal to the state government to maintain an impartial view and not be swayed by any such extreme influences.” 

Our Demands: 

1.    Police should form a Special Investigating Squad for conducting enquiry into Padil Attack
2.    Government should appoint a Special Prosecutor for the case
3.    Government should appoint a Special Court for conducting the trial
4.    Police should revive the defunct ‘Anti Rowdy Squad’ which had been successful in curbing criminal activities
5.    Enquiry should be conducted into the familiar pattern of similar incidents over the last decade which have destroyed peace and communal harmony in the district. Strict action should be initiated on the basis of the findings and the leaders instigating violence and hatred should be brought to book.   

Organizations Participating in the Mass Movement

•    Jaago Mangalore Association
•    Arise Mangalore
•    Karnataka Rajya Trabetudarara Sanchalana
•    Mahilapara Chintana Koota, Mangalore
•    Ahinda
•    Karnataka Rakshana Vedike
•    Samvidanika Chaluvali, Mangalore
•    Bala Karamika Paddatiu Virodhi Andolana
•    Praja Pragathi Ranga
•    Breakthrough Human Rights Organization
•    MCHRO
•    PUCL

Advocate Dinesh Hegde Ulepady, P K George of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and Veena of Council of Catholic Women were present at the press meet.

For more information contact Vijaynath Shetty, Mobile: 09821015336