13 hours ago
Capt. Chowta urges Karnataka government not to impose unreasonable restrictions on Hindu festivities
Capt. Brijesh Chowta, Dakshina Kannada MP, on Wednesday urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah not to hurt sentiments of Hindus by imposing unreasonable restrictions on festivities through the police.
In a statement from New Delhi, Capt. Chowta alleged that the state government was using the police to hurt HIndu sentiments. Referring to recent guidelines by the Mangaluru city and the Dakshina Kannada district police which, among other things, restricted the use of DJ system, holding festivities beyond 10 p.m. etc., the MP said several socio-cultural-religious programmes take place throughout the year in Tulunadu.
However, the Mangaluru police booking a case against the organisers and seizing the sound system at a Mosaru Kudike celebration in Kavoor, was deplorable, the MP said.
When people were celebrating festivals with great fervour, the police interruptions were not good. During the erstwhile BJP rule too, there were restrictions on the use of loudspeakers; yet the police did not interfere in the celebrations, he noted. Now it appears that the government has given specific instructions to the police to disturb Hindu festivities, he alleged.
Owners of sound systems were contemplating not to use loudspeakers in any public function after the police booked one of them in Kavoor. The restrictions would adversely affect people engaged in the business.
Capt. Chowta noted that elected representatives of the region had raised the issue before Home Minister G. Parameshwara during his recent visit to Mangaluru. However, the Minister did not resolve the issue then.
If the government continues to meddle with Hindu sentiments, it would be held responsible for any consequences, the MP cautioned.
The Kavoor police on August 16 booked the organisers and sound system owners at the Mosaru Kudike celebrations at Panjimogaru for using DJ system and obstructing traffic movement on a public road.
