Communal forces are a threat to democracy, says Chenni

Critic and thinker Prof Rajendra Chenni said that the government should immediately take strict legal action against those who provoke communal feelings.

He was speaking at a harmony meet organised at Town Hall here on Monday. “All types of communalism are evil,” he said and called upon people to be united against communalism as it destroys the core of democracy.

“Communal forces that behave like extra constitutional forces, pose a threat to the democratic values of equality, solidarity and harmony,” he said.

Prof Chenni said the multicultural fabric of Karnataka will be destroyed if the acts of communal forces continue in the same fashion. Without the unique culture, the state will lose its cultural existence, he observed.

Increasing violence by communal forces have hit the development of Dakshina Kannada. There is no connection between religion and communalism. Acts of communalism are politically motivated and it is a bad trend in Indian politics.

The deaths of innocent people in communal clashes are considered as sacrifice by some factions of society, which too is sad, he regretted.

CPI(M) State Committee secretary G V Sreeram Reddy condemned the acts of violence by “self-declared go rakshaks” in the name of protecting cattle. Some parties, which call themselves secular, have been carrying out mean games in the name of religion and community, for the sake of vote bank, he charged.

Reddy lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for violating the Non-alignment Policy of India by visiting Israel. The GST implemented by the Central government will result in the skyrocketing of prices of daily commodities, he expressed concern.

JD(S) state general secretary S L Bojegowda, CPI Central Committee member Dr Siddanagowda Patil, DSS (Krishnappa) state secretary M Devdas, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha-Hasiru Sene state secretary Ravikiran Punacha and CPI(M) District Committee secretary Vasanth Achari were present on the occasion.