Vidya Dinker seeks Home Minister’s intervention to stop saffronists’ Lie Jihad in coastal Karnataka

Mangaluru, Dec 30: Vidya Dinker, activist and convener of the Citizens Forum For Mangalore Development, has sought Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy’s immediate intervention to prevent saffron outfits from spreading communal hatred and lies in the name of Love Jihad.

Love Jihad is a term that is widely used by rightwing outfits like Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal to create an impression in the society that Muslim boys target young girls belonging to Hindu community for conversion to Islam by feigning love. However, Muslims dismiss the allegation as ‘lie jihad’ by saffron outfits aimed at creating hatred between communities for political gains.

In a memorandum addressed to Home Minister and submitted to Mangaluru City Police Commissioner T R Suresh on Friday, Ms Dinker alleged that right wing elements are actively trying to import and embed the fake concept of ‘love jihad’ into coastal district of Dakshina Kannada to instigate communal tensions. Recently two incidents (of interfaith affairs) have been blown out of proportion under this concept and there is every likelihood of the situation getting out of control if their activities are not curbed, she said.

“A local godman called Rajashekaranand Swami of Vajradehi Mutt has announced the formation of his Special Task Force (STF) against so called Love Jihad to keep an eye on and rein in Hindu girls. If this is allowed to go unchecked, we can expect more of organised trouble in the near future,” she pointed out in the memorandum.

She also said that the citizens of Mangaluru were deeply disappointed with the police department as the incidents of immoral policing were being reported frequently for the past few months.

“The Mangaluru region was notorious for immoral policing of right wing outfits. This was one of the reasons for the huge victory of Congress Party in the previous assembly elections as people had placed their hopes in your party to curb right wing mafia activities. Though your government has given us a brief spell of peace, we are alarmed to see anti-social elements once again attempting to take charge of the city and dismayed to observe the inability of the police to respond effectively to its growing menace to the public,” the memorandum stated.

Also Read: Mangaluru: Forum urges Home Minister to curb immoral policing during New Year celebrations