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print versionKarnataka Komu Souharda Vedike, D.K. District (Karnataka Communal Harmony Forum)
B.H. Bangera Hall, Old Kent Road, Police lane, Mangalore 575001. Ph: 0824 2225652; 9964071782
Mangalore September 29, 2013
To:
The Honorable Union Home Minister
Government of India
Sub: Attempts to Promote Communal Disturbances in Dakshina Kannada District (Karnataka State) through Public Distribution of Swords to Youth
Respected Sir,
Addressing a press conference in Mangalore on 15 September 2013, Swami Pranavananda, state executive president of the All India Hindu Mahsabha has reportedly announced that Hindu Dharma is under attack and in order to protect the nation, its women and cows a Khadga Diksha will be given to 5000 young men in Mangalore on October 25. The Mahasabha will instill the necessary courage in them for street fights, he is reported to have said. He has also claimed that youth from several organisations have come forward to obtain Khadga Diksha and many such special programs will be held all over the state. The above statements were reported by several newspapers the next day.
Khadga Diksha in Sanskrit means holding a sword and taking a pledge to dedicate oneself to some holy cause or the other. Here the choice of Sanskrit terms is deliberate and intended to glorify what is obviously an unlawful act. But no amount of such glorification can hide the evil designs behind such an exercise. The ostensible claim is that these swords are meant for protection of the country, its women and holy cows. To our knowledge possession of lethal weapons for holy or unholy purposes, by individuals or groups is forbidden by the law of the land.
It is common knowledge that such distribution of lethal weapons has been going on clandestinely. In 2008 people were called upon to worship arms instead of traditional agricultural implements on the occasion of Ayudha Pooja. Some persons have even gone to the extent of calling for building private brigades of armed youth again ostensibly for the protection of culture, women and cows. But the present one beats them all since it is for the first time that lethal weapons will be distributed in public in open defiance of the rule of law. Extensive records are available on the wide-spread use of swords in street fights, underworld wars, riots etc.
Almost every communal outbreak including the recent ones in Bihar, Kashmir, UP has seen sword-wielding mobs attacking and hacking people.
In August this year the Shiv Sena too distributed swords to men and women during a public dahi handi program, to “cut-off the limbs of men who attack women†. The Maharashtra police took no action. The reason? There was no complaint! In fact the police in such cases are authorized to take suo-motu action.
General elections are due in 2014. Political parties are looking for ways and means to increase their vote share. Polarizing society on religious lines is one such method. Is it mere coincidence that the number of communal riots in the country are showing an upward trend? The stark fact is today minority communities all over the country have become extremely apprehensive and are looking up to the government for succour. Your Ministry (MHA) has recently issued a circular to all states warning them of the possibility of communal riots in the near future. We are sure the Karnataka government too is in receipt of this circular and has forwarded the same to all the districts including ours.
The Dakshina Kannada district is already notorious for its unending series of communal incidents such as the pub and home stay attacks which have tarnished its image both nationally and internationally. The situation in the district though outwardly calm is almost like a ticking bomb that can go off at the slightest provocation. Hence the authorities are supposed to be extra vigilant now. They are supposed to take all necessary precautionary and preventive measures. They are supposed to remain alert to any happening that might lead to any conflagration or might create fear in the minds of people, especially the minorities. Therefore immediate and stern legal measures were called for in the matter of this intended Khadga Diksha. But the ominous silence on the part of the concerned authorities is cause for grave concern and we are forced to ask whether or not such mass distribution of swords in the name of Diksha , street fights etc come under the purview of the MHA circular.
We have called upon the district administration to
- initiate necessary legal action against the concerned person/persons/organizers of this unlawful Khadga Diksha program immediately
- set in motion all necessary precautionary and preventive measures against evil forces that might disturb peace and harmony in the district, in pursuance of the MHA circular
- take the public into confidence and announce what steps have been initiated for ensuring peace and harmony and for protection of the minority communities.
These, we feel, are the barest minimum necessary for reassuring the minority communities and making them feel the administration is concerned and is committed to protecting them from chauvinistic forces.
A private complaint has been lodged at the jurisdictional police station by “Citizens for Peace†which is a collective of several individuals and organizations including ours. The related documents are enclosed herewith. (FIR 0194/2013)
Meanwhile the All India Hindu Mahsabha has held a second press conference on September 26 and announced that they will hold the Khadga Diksha on October 25 ‘at any cost’.
The above is for your kind information.
Yours truly,
For Karnataka Communal Harmony Forum
Suresh Bhat B
(District President and other office-bearers)
Encl: Copy of complaint
Photocopies of newspaper reports
Copies To:
- The President of India
- The Prime Minister of India
- National Integration Council
- Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, NAC
- Letter to Home Minister, Govt. of India [PDF version]
- by Karnataka Communal Harmony Forum (Mangalore 29 Sept 2013)
- Supporting documents - Copy of Complaint and News reports
