Puttur: Following the BJP being pushed to the third position in the Puttur Assembly Constituency in the recent election, Puttur is now in the eye of a storm brewing all along the coast. The questions asked by the Hindutva followers is echoing even in some North Karnataka Hindutva belt and if the signals are to believed there is a clear divide emerging between religious Hindutva and political Hindutva. This was the reason why two maverick candidates in Puttur (Arun Kumar Puthila) and Karkala (Pramod Muthalik) have given the BJP a run for their money.
The most prominent electoral fight was fought in Puttur where Arun Kumar Puthila effectively and impactfully pushed the BJP candidate Asha Thimmappa Gowda (Coastal Vokkaliga) to the third position and gave Congress candidate Ashok Rai anxious moments and missed victory over him by a little more than 4000 votes. If this trend is to be analysed the religious Hindus are not happy or contented with the Hindutva designs of the political Hindus in the BJP.
Basanagouda Patil a tall Hindu Leader and also the BJP MLA from Vijayapura has analysed the situation in Puttur that if the BJP Leaders in the state were true Hindtuva followers they should not demarcate the Hindu activists outside the party’s eco system but try to merge them inside the party by understanding the gravity of the situation. Similar sentiments have been expressed towards Pramod Muthalik in Karkala.
The alleged police brutality on Hindu activists in Puttur is now making national headlines following the change of power centre from BJP to Congress. Days are not far when narratives will be floated and theories will be formed that it was the Congress party that was misusing the police force to brutalise the Hindu activists. Another school of thought believes that this is an incident that will be developed as a model all over the state to depict that Hindus are being victimised for political gains.
It is also the time for the Congress party to step in and make its stand clear about the issue of police attrocities on Hindu workers and should have empathised with them.
A meek and knee-jerk attempt has been done by the Former MLA of Mulki Moodabidri K. Abhayachandra Jain who has condemned the alleged police brutality and attributed it to state BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel who has used the police to neutralise religious Hindutva activists. The BJP was quick to make a quirky comment that why should Congress leader Abhayachandra should worry about Hindutva activists? When his party turns a blind eye towards murders of Hindu activists in Shivamogga, Bengaluru and Puttur in the recent incidents.
Yatnal, addressing reporters after visiting Hindu activists admitted to a hospital following alleged police torture, stated, “Hindu activists were massacred during the earlier Congress regime. Now, the government is being formed with the same leadership creating fear among Hindu activists.”
Yatnal further expressed, “The Hindu and BJP activists were thrashed in DSP’s office. They are not Talibanis or have not carried anti-national activities. This will not bring honor to the police department.We need to ensure there is no mistake from our end. We Hindus do not trouble others. We are not against any religion. Our struggle is for Hindutva,” he said.
“I will convey the feelings of workers to the central leadership. I am giving Rs. 1 lakh for the treatment of injured workers. We are pained and have come to know the truth and it will be communicated to proper authorities. I will be with you always. I also represent a seat which has a large number of Muslim voters. The party will take a decision as per the wishes of party workers. There is no need to be fearful,” Yatnal stated.
“I have spoken to the State BJP President. Acting Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has spoken to DGP. This is a painful and shameful matter. The issue of allotment of ticket is the reason for confusion,” he added.
“The future days are going to be difficult. There might be attacks on our party workers. We should introspect and apologise if there are any mistakes. If this government turns out to be anti-Hindu, we will not leave,” he maintained.
In a different statement, Nalin Kumar Kateel had also condemned the third-degree treatment to Hindu activists by the Puttur Police.
The Police have filed FIR against Puttur DSP and three cops of Puttur Rural Police Station in connection with the case. Dakshina Kannada SP Vikram Amte had visited the Police Station and an investigation into the case is being carried out by Bantwal DySP.