JOIN US'Hold peace meetings at taluk-level'
Addressing a peace meeting organised to maintain communal harmony during Ganeshotsava, Ramzan and Palm Sunday at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here on Friday, Palemar said that the Deputy Commissioner has been asked to convene peace meetings in all taluks. He said that all local communal issues should be sorted out locally.
Further, he said that it is not fair to blame a community completely if someone makes a mistake. Communal issues and terrorism creates divide in the society, he added. “A wrong signal will be spread about the region globally if situation continues like this. It will also affect the investments and economic development of the region,” Palemar noted.
‘Don’t ‘fix’ innocents’
Bantwal MLA B Ramanath Rai said that the religion should be practiced within its framework. “People belonging to all community have their own feelings and sentiments. Communal disharmony flares up when the religious sentiments are hurt,” Rai added.
Talking about the role of media, Rai said that nobody can blame media for blowing up an incident. “They are performing their duty. It is the duty of the government and people to find solution to problems,” he added.
Further, he urged the police department not to ‘fix’ innocent people under baseless charges. “Earlier, there were no practice of ‘fixing’ persons in cases. It is a new development in the police department,” he added.
‘Don’t sensationalise news’
Vishwa Hindu Parishat leader Prof M B Puranik said that media should not make effort to sensationalise a news by blowing it up. Whatever issues arise inside an educational institution should be sorted out amicably within the campus.
BJP spokesperson Ratnakar Naik said that the leaders of political parties and religions should spread the message of peace in their respective regions.
Ullal Darga Committee President Kanachur Monu said that about 97 per cent of the population suffer during communal riots because of the misdeeds of only 3 per cent population. He said that the management of schools should be free from the control of religions and political parties.
‘Don’t release miscreants’
Nagarika Hitharakshana Vedike President Hanumanth Kamath demanded the police not to release miscreants based on phone calls from influential persons. Kamath charged that miscreants in most of the riot cases do skip punishment since police release them without charging cases.
BJP leader Umanath Kotian blamed police for the unrest in the society. He said that police are responsible for communal riots in the region.
Coastal Karnataka Development Authority Chairman B Nagaraj Shetty, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Zilla Panchayat President Venkat Dambekodi, Mangalore City Corporation Mayor M Shanker Bhat, DC V Ponnuraj and SP Dr A S Rao were present.
Section 144
Minister Palemar told media persons that the decision of clamping Section 144 will be reviewed in the wake of strong demand from the people at the peace meeting. However, the matter will be discussed with the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police and a decision will be taken by them. It is a good sign that people are demanding the withdrawal of Section 144, he added.
DC V Ponnuraj said that a decision on whether ban orders be lifted or not will be taken after assessing the situation later. Meanwhile, SP Dr A S Rao said that no untoward incidents were reported in the past two days. A total of 18 persons have been taken into custody as a precautionary measure, he added.