Amit Shah flays efforts to develop anti-national theories

 Some people and non-government organisations have been developing theories against nationalism, said BJP National President Amit Shah.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Tiranga Yatra programme organised by the BJP on the Mangalore University premises at Mangalagangothri on the outskirts of Mangaluru, on Sunday.

Shah said one must remember that the nationalist ideologies were the roots of the Indian freedom struggle. Noting that queen Abbakka faced the Portuguese seven times with courage, turning futile their efforts to capture the port at Ullal, Shah said that Abbakka’s sacrifice is a noble example of patriotism for generations to come. She is a role model for the youth, he added.

Citing the objective of Tiranga Yatra, Shah said that the campaign outlines the sacrifice of freedom fighters. The programme will be held till August 23 in various parts of the country, wherein known and unknown martyrs during the freedom struggle will be remembered. There is also an objective of teaching younger generations that it is our responsibility to respect the freedom as it has come at a cost of many lives.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel concurred that queen Abbakka of Ullal faced Portuguese attacks with fortitude, thus paving the way for the freedom struggle. The government should include lessons on Abbakka in curriculum of schools and rename Mangaluru International Airport after Abbakka, he demanded and clarified that the perspective of Tiranga Yatra is patriotic and not political.

Nitte University Chancellor N Vinay Hegde rued the recent incidents wherein universities in the country are in news for wrong reasons.

‘Matter of integrity’

Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation D V Sadananda Gowda said that certain incidents recently are threatening the integrity of the nation. “Mangaluru is between Kasargod and Bhatkal, natives of which have been a part of extremist groups. The Tiranga Yatra, organised in Mangaluru, will certainly pass on a strong message,” he opined.

BJP state unit president B S Yeddyurappa said that, for the first time in the 70 years of Independence, a campaign exclusively dedicated to the martyrs of the freedom struggle, was being held at national-level. “Union ministers will visit 100 places that have been recorded in the history of the freedom struggle and pay tributes to martyrs. As a part of the programme, in Mangaluru, queen Abbakka, who fought against the Portuguese, is remembered,” Yeddyurappa said, adding that there is a dearth of honest people in Karnataka, which has been hindering the growth of the state. He also cited a need to make Karnataka a model state in future.

BJP national general secretary and Karnataka state in-charge Muralidhar Rao, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik and queen Abbakka’s family descendent Kuldip Chowta were present among others.