Udupi: The others need not give certificates as to who is patriotic and who is not, who is national and who is anti-national, said Activist Yogendra Yadav.
He was speaking as a Chief Guest at the convention organised by Bahutva Karnataka in the town at the Christian School campus here on Saturday May 14. He maintained that those who bring people of this country together are patriots, while those who divide them are anti nationals.
Yadav said that we will start spreading harmony right from Udupi where some of people are trying to disturb harmony in the society. Some people are trying to divide the entire country. They are trying to create two classes of citizens like owners and tenants. But in reality, all are equal as per our national Constitution. Some are trying to bulldoze our Constitution.
Yadav said that Hindi is not the national language. It is not mentioned so in the Constitution. He said Kannada language is thousands of years old. Secularism means treating all religions equally. It is right to equality, right to culture, and right to religion. Respect all religions, he said.
He said that secularism is not a gift of the British, it is a gift of our Constitution. Secularism is nothing but the religion of this country which existed for more than 5000 years. And it will remain forever, he said.
The other Chief Guest of the convention was former IAS Officer Sasikanth Senthil.
In the present situation of the society in the country, the mindset of people is that those who agree with the citizens of the country and the other side do not agree the same. The problem is of the two different mindsets and not the problem between Hindus and Muslims, said Sashikanth Senthil. He further said that country means people. Some people do not want brotherhood, love and for them harmony is not important. This society has been trying to control people with fear and anxiety. But other people do not like that which does not mean there should be conflict between the two mindsets of society. There should be love and brotherhood in the society. We do not celebrate Bharatiyata. For 50 years, the idea of Bharatiya has been forgotten. It is not enough to give education to our children but we need to give them the mentality of brotherhood and love, he said.
Yaseen Malpe spoke on the need to organise the convention. K. L. Ashok gave an introduction speech.
Various religious priests like Sri Gurubasava Pattadevaru, Udupi District Khazi Zionaul Uluma M Abdul Hameed Musliyar, Puttur Malankara Catholic Church Bishop Fr. Vargeesh Mar Makariyus, Mysore Basavajnana Mandir Head Dr. Mathe Basavanjali Devi, Sri Basava Prakash Swamiji of Belgaum Basava Mantapa, Syeed Mohammed of Belagavi and Karnataka Jameeyathul Ulemahi Hind President Ifikhar Ahmed Kasmi gave their messages.
Dr. Abdul Rasheed Sakafi of Karnataka Sunni Yuavajan Sangha President, Rev. Dr. Harbert M Vatson of Karnataka Theological College Principal, Karnataka State Darami Ulaima Okkuta Secretary Maulana U. K. Abdudl Azeem, Udupi Diocese PRO Rev Fr. Chetan Lobo and Manipal Gurudwara Priest Jnani Balaraj Singh gave their Sahabalve messages.
The convention as well as harmony walk was organised with the aim to foster interfaith dialogue amid recent communal tensions in the Coastal regions as well as across the State. People in thousands walked from Hutatma Chowk in Ajjarkadu to the Christian School (Mission Compound) on the afternoo of Saturday. The walk culminated with a harmony convention that took place in the Christian School campus.
Veronica Carnelio compered the programme.
