Is pub culture desirable?

The attack on a group of women in a Mangalore pub, allegedly by members of the Shri Ram Sene, has the Opposition gunning for his head. But Karnataka Home Minister Dr V S Acharya seems unfazed by the volley of criticism directed at the state government after the incident.
In an interview with rediff.com’s Vicky Nanjappa, Dr Acharya claims that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the state acted swiftly and firmly against the culprits involved in the Mangalore attack.

Has your government succeeded in acting against the perpetrators of the Mangalore attack?

We have acted swiftly and taken appropriate action in the matter. We have given the police a free hand and they have done a commendable job. The arrest of so many people is an indication of the action being taken.

Do you agree with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s views about putting an end to the pub culture in the state?

Pub culture is not desirable in the Indian context. I whole-heartedly agree with Yeddyurappa’s stance.

Are you planning to take action against these pubs?

There are laws that govern these pubs. The usual norms will continue to apply to pubs and bars. But implementing the existing law is not the issue here. The Mangalore pub, which was attacked, had not violated any laws.

Is the BJP associated with the Shri Ram Sene?

We are not associated with the Sene. I have always maintained that the Shri Ram Sene is a separate entity and has nothing to do with the BJP.

But they seem to be taking advantage of the fact that the BJP is in power.

That is not true. We have dealt with the Sene with an iron fist and action has been taken without favouring anyone.

I firmly believe that the Sene is a tool in someone’s hand, who is playing a game, to tarnish the BJP.

Can you substantiate that statement?

The ongoing investigations have provided some clues about the Sene being used as a tool. The probe will reveal the truth.

Shri Ram Sene activists have been equated to terrorists and intellectuals like U R Ananthamurthy feel that anti-terror laws should be used against them. Doesn’t this call for a ban on the Sene to ensure a peaceful Karnataka?

There has been no proposal so far to ban the outfit. But the government is considering the matter. Regarding the applicability of anti-terror laws against the activists, as I mentioned earlier, we have not been soft on them and have dealt with an iron fist.

Moral policing is the job of a parent

Karnataka has been in the news for all the wrong reasons this week. After the dastardly attack on women in a Mangalore pub last Saturday by members of the Shri Ram Sena, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa declared that he would not allow ‘pub culture’ in the state.
Udupi Rajagopalacharya Ananthamurthy, one of India’s greatest novelists, a leading figure in contemporary Kannada literature and recipient of the prestigious Jnanpith Award, is “saddened and disgusted” by the moral policing in his beloved state. He tells rediff.com’s Vicky Nanjappa that moral policing is a parental duty — not a governmental one.

What is your reaction to the recent moral policing?

I feel sad and I feel disgusted. This is not the Karnataka I know.

Do you think the Shri Ram Sena is justified in seeking a ban on pubs to ‘protect Indian culture’?

Banning pubs is not the solution. Such incidents are like terror attacks — they will not stop even if you shut down pubs. I think that the new anti-terror laws should be applicable to the perpetrators of such attacks.

Do you think the Shri Ram Sena should be banned?

Banning the Shri Ram Sena is not the solution. A ban on the entire Sangh Parivar would help prevent such incidents in the future.

Do you feel the Bharatiya Janata Party is finding it difficult to handle the Sena and curb its activities?

The BJP created this monster, which will end up devouring the party and Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. The BJP had created Narendra Modi [Images], and one day he will devour (BJP y prime ministerial candidate) L K Advani [Images].

Advani feels bad about the demolition of the Babri Masjid, but Modi would never be apologetic about such an act.

Are we at a point of no return?

The solution is to elect a liberal party to power — the BJP is a reactionary party. Such incidents will recur and at the moment, I do not see any hope.

You have been unusually quiet about the Mangalore incident. Usually, you are the first person to speak up against such horrific incidents.

Talking about it makes me feel sad. I feel that Karnataka is no longer the Karnataka I have known. Ours has been a land of great personalities and great writers.

I have been abused every time I have raised my voice against such atrocities. Personal allegations have been made against me. And tell me, did mediapersons like you bother standing up for me when such allegations were being leveled against me?

I only raised my voice about legitimate issues when I felt that society was being wronged. I feel as though I am living in exile in my home land.

Do you think that such an incident would not have taken place under a non-BJP government?

Such an incident would not have taken place had there been a proper government in power. We need governments that believe in progress to form a better society, not reactionary parties like the BJP.

The Shri Ram Sena believes women frequenting pubs in skimpy clothes is not part of our culture. Don’t [Images] you think that someone ought to do something to preserve our culture, which is fading fast?

Why should it be anybody’s problem? If a girl goes to a pub, then why should you and I bother? Their parents should deal with such issues. If I have a problem with my daughter going to a pub, then it is my problem and I have to deal with it. I should advise her about what is right and what is wrong.

Such issues are not the concern of the Shri Ram Sena or the government. The job of the government is to uphold the law and maintain peace, not act as moral guardians of society.

Muthalik in Malegaon net?

With the Mumbai [Images] Anti-Terrorism Squad deciding to question Shri Ram Sena founder, Pramod Muthalik more details on the mysterious Pravin Muthalik, who finds a mention in the Malegaon probe, are likely to emerge.

The ATS which said that it would question Pramod Muthalik in connection with the Malegaon case would try and get more information on Pravin Muthalik, who has been termed as a technical expert and the man who allegedly planted the bomb with two others at Malegaon.

It was rumoured that Pravin and Pramod were brothers. However the Pramod Muthalik camp denies this and says that there is no connection between the two.

According to investigators, Pravin played a major role in the Malegaon blasts [Images] case. As of now the ATS has sketchy details regarding Pravin. It is said that the man is believed to be hiding in Karnataka and is a chartered accountant by profession.

An investigating officer told rediff.com that Pravin was present in Malegaon along with two other accused at the time of the blasts. Further it is also claimed that Pravin was introduced by Sadhvi Pragya [Images] Singh Thakur to Lieutenant Colonel Srikant Purohit. Following this Pravin met Purohit on several occasions and also allegedly attended the meeting in which the Malegaon conspiracy was hatched.

The ATS is also trying to ascertain whether Pravin was the man who planted the bomb on the two-wheeler. Sources said that they would try and ascertain whether there is any connection between the Shri Ram Sena founder Pramod and Pravin Muthalik.

Nabbing Pravin Muthalik is extremely crucial to the interrogation since he could provide clues regarding the whereabouts of Ramji and Dange, the two other persons who are believed to planted the bomb at Malegaon.

The ATS is also relying heavily on the narco-analysis and interrogation of Lt Col Purohit who had said that Pravin was a member of the Abhinav Bharat and had also played an active part in the Malegaon blast.

Meanwhiel, Pramod Muthalik who was produced before a Mangalore court in connection with the pub attack incident said he had nothing to do with the Malegaon case. In an interview with rediff.com a few months back he had said that his outfit was training youth to fight against terror and denied that they were into any sort of subversive activity.