Mangaluru: Ibrahim Kodijal, Dakshina Kannada Congress interim president on Monday blamed BJP-led central government and Sangh Parivar for the rising intolerance in the country.
Speaking at a press meet at the party office, Kodijal said, “The country has witnessed several incidents signalling rising intolerance. Recently two cattle traders were brutally killed and hanged by the alleged Sangh Parivar members. Are these killers not terrorists? A man was lynched by the mob on beef rumours even though he had kept mutton in the refrigerator. All these attackers are not terrorists?”, he questioned BJP and Sangh Parivar.
“Prime Minister Modi in a programme told that Islam does not preach violence and is a religion of peace. Neither Hinduism, Islam nor Christianity supports terrorism. BJP and Sangh Parivar act like they are against Hinduism and Constitution. The provocative statement by BJP MP Ananth Kumar Hegde on Islam is an example for this”, he added.
Adding further, he said, “The Congress is secular and there is no place for communalism and hatred. It treats all religions equally and helps the people of this country to live in unity. The increasing cases of communal hatred is similar to disrespecting the Constitution,” he said.
Reacting to the recent controversy of inviting District Commissioner A B Ibrahim to a temple festival, he said, “The decision to print DC’s name in the invitation has courted controversy which is equal to going against the principles of tolerance, harmony. There is no logic in the issue as we have been celebrating all the festivals irrespective of religions in the past several years.”
He lauded District-in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai who has been celebrating Ganeshotsav with brothers from all the communities.
He said that even though Congress lost Zilla panchayath polls in the region due to communal polarisation, in the next elections all the eight seats will be grabbed by the Congress.
Puttur block president Kavu Hemanath Shetty, Corporator Shashidhar Hegde T K Sudhir were present.
