‘Souhardatekagi’(for harmony) Human chains formed in Mangaluru, Udupi

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 31, 2018: Human chain at  Clock Tower, Town Hall and A.B. Shetty Circle areas n Mangaluru, January 30, Tuesday evening aiming to promote communal harmony in the State, with people from all walks of life taking part underscored the concern in this regard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The human chain formed across Karnataka under the banner of ‘Souhardategagi Karnataka’. Addressing a gathering at Nehru Maidan afterwards, Dinesh Amin Mattu, media adviser to the Chief Minister, said it was sad that a situation has arisen were human chains have to be formed promoting communal harmony.

He said Dakshina Kannada district was known for its diverse culture and religions. Now, the social and communal harmony is under threat because of some forces that have divided society. There is a need to bridge the gap among communities, he said.

Journalist  Mattu said development should be the main agenda of debate among political parties during elections, not religion. But, the latter has come to the forefront now during elections, he said.

Questioning RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat sharing the stage with Congress leader B. Janardhana Poojary and others during the release of  Poojary’s autobiography on January 26,  Mattu said such acts would not help bring about communal harmony.   Inviting RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, known for propagating communal values, to Kudroli Temple is an insult to Narayanaguru, said columnist and Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Dinesh Amin Mattu.

Writer Chandrakala Nandavar said that the value of religious harmony should be passed on to the next generation. They should be taught to respect people from other communities and not to hate them.

DYFI state president Munir Katipalla, human chain programme conveners Fr Onil D’Souza and former mayor Ashraf, Ahinda leader Vasudeva Boloor, human right and Dalit activists Keshava Dharani and Devdas, Communist leader K R Shriyan and Mayor Kavita Sanil were present in Mangaluru.


In Udupi : Members of various progressive groups formed a human chain to promote communal harmony and peace Jan 30, Tuesday evening. It also coincided with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The chain was formed from Triveni Cicle to Court Road. Those who were part of the chain also took an oath to promote communal harmony and peace in society.

Later, at a meeting held in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Bhujanga Park, G. Rajashekhar, writer, said the forces responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi were now ruling the country. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been stating that Gandhi’s assassin, Nathuram Godse, was not its member and that he belonged to the Hindu Mahasabha. But the fact is both these organisations represent the same ideology, he said.

Communal harmony in the country has taken a hit in the past three years, he opined, adding that things had worsened in the coastal districts of the State. Little is being done to check the reactionary forces who were behind communal incidents, he said.

William Martis, social activist, said the intention behind forming the human chain was to spread awareness about Gandhi. “People are forgetting Gandhiji and his ideals; they had to reminded,” he said.

Gandhi believed in “ sabko sanmati de bhagwan” . “Hence, all castes and religions should live with one another in peace and harmony. We have formed this human chain in a peaceful manner against communalism,” he said.

Idris Hoode, vice-president of the district unit of Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike, K. Phaniraj, office-bearer of the forum, Sundar Master, convener of the Dalita Damanitara Swabhimani Horata Samiti, Murali Upadhya Hiriyadka, convener of Rathabeedi Geleyaru, and P.V. Bhandary, psychiatrist, were among those present.