[Reader-list] Action Alert - Communal harmony activists arrested in Karnataka - Write in the the chief Minister

[Clifton]

Friends,

Most of you are aware of the Sangh Parivar’s attempts to destroy the 
secular fabric in Karnataka by targeting the Baba-Datta shrine on 
Bababudangiri near Chikmagalur, a shrine that is an example of syncretic 
traditions in the state, attracting people of different faiths. You are 
also aware of the role of this present coalition government in 
supporting and promoting these activities of the Sangh Parivar. Now the 
government has given permission to the Sangh Parivar to conduct the 
Shobha Yatra and about 300 activists of the Karnataka Komu Souharda 
Vedike who reached Chikmagalur to protest this have been arrested today 
(02.12.2006).

The Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike, which is a coalition of over 200 
organizations working since 2002 to establish communal harmony and to 
fight against the agenda of communalism in Karnataka, has through the 
years exposed the Sangh Parivar’s farcical claims about the shrine, 
thwarted their intentions and successfully countered their agenda 
through its ideology of aggressive secularism.

The Sangh Parivar has been targeting the shrine on Bababudangiri with 
the sole intention of destroying this tradition in the name of 
'liberating' the shrine from Muslims. In order to achieve their narrow 
sectarian goal, they have been creating unwanted disputes, putting up 
historically untenable and legally unsubstantial arguments. Further, 
they have introduced previously non-existent religious practices like 
Datta-Mala Abhiyan, Shobha Yatra and Datta Jayanthi celebrations every 
year in the months of October, November and December. It is obvious that 
their main purpose is neither religion nor faith but to target the 
Muslim community as ‘outsiders’ who are bent on destroying the ‘Hindu’ 
tradition and culture.

This year, the BJP has aligned with the Janata Dal (S) to form a 
coalition government which has thus far supported the communal agenda of 
the Sangh Parivar. Clear evidence of this was visible in the first week 
of October during the communal violence in and around Mangalore and in 
Bababudangiri at the time of the Datta Mala Abhiyan. In Bababudangiri, 
the local BJP MLA, C.T. Ravi led the Sangh Parivar activists in 
performing rites in the shrine – in clear violation of the High Court's 
order.

By contrast activists of the Komu Souharda Vedike were arrested and 
prevented from peacefully protesting and exposing the communal designs 
of the present Government. This action of the present governement is 
reprehensible and reaffirms the communal credentials of the so – called 
secular JD(S). We are particularly concerned that this particular action 
of arresting secular activists and preventing peaceful protests bodes 
ill for the future of democracy in Karnataka

/We request you to write / phone / fax / email the Chief Minister and 
the Home Minister demanding the immediate release of the arrested 
activists. We also hope that you would state in most certain terms your 
unacceptance of such a communal agenda of this government especially 
with regard to Bababudangiri and the recent Mangalore riots. /

/Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy/
/Ph: 2225 3414 / /22253424/
cm at kar.nic.in <mailto:cm at kar.nic.in>/

/Home Minister M.P. Prakash
Ph: 22251798
Internal Ph: 2092489
e-mail: homemin at vsb.kar.nic.in <mailto:homemin at vsb.kar.nic.in>/