Bengaluru: “Let Muslims live peacefully and respectfully” — this is the message from former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa as Karnataka draws flak for Hindutva outfits’ camapigns targeting Muslims and Muslim-owned businesses.
A day after four alleged members of the fringe Sri Rama Sene were arrested in Dharwad for vandalising fruit carts belonging to Muslims, Yediyurappa urged Hindutva outfits to stop such activities.
“It is my desire to see Hindus and Muslims live together as children of one mother. If some miscreants are obstructing that, then the chief minister has already assured that action will be initiated,” Yediyurappa told reporters Monday.
“At least, henceforth, such unpleasant incidents shouldn’t take place and we should stay united,” he added. “I would also appeal to those indulging in such activities to stop.”
Yediyurappa is the first BJP leader of his stature to publicly criticise the campaigns being led by Hindutva outfits in the aftermath of the hijab controversy.
Hindutva outfits have so far called for a ban on Muslim shops near temples, boycott of halal meat, and the end of “Muslim monopoly” in the fruit business. Calls have also been made to boycott idols made by Muslim craftsman, and taxis and autos driven by members of the community, with demands for a crackdown on loudspeakers at mosques too.
Yediyurappa’s statement comes a day after Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswamy warned fringe groups of action.
“All those who chose to stay in India after Independence are Indians. This country belongs to everyone,” Madhuswamy told reporters in Belagavi Sunday.
The government, he added, cannot be held responsible for actions of certain fringe groups but it will take action against such groups if they create trouble and disrupt peace.
“The Constitution has guaranteed every citizen the right to live, conduct business and practise their religion. It hasn’t given anyone the right to defame any community in public,” Madhuswamy added, becoming the first minister in the Basavaraj Bommai cabinet to criticise the campaigns by Hindutva outfits.
Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra had in March called all these bans by Hindu organisations a “reaction” against the hijab ban protest.
Last month, two BJP legislators spoke out against the campaigns too.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
Also Read: ‘Bhajans to counter azaan’: Sri Ram Sene takes cue from MNS, wants mosque loudspeakers banned