Abu Muhammad | coastaldigest.com
January 16,2020
Even as the Muslims of undivided Dakshina Kannada district broke out of the “spiral of silence” and made history by leading an unprecedented protest against CAA, NPR and NRC as well as the categorial mistreatment of non-saffronites at the hands of the police across the country, mainstream media turned a blind eye to the spectacle at the Shah Garden Maidan in Mangaluru’s Adyar where about two lakh patriots with tricolor in their hands converged to assert themselves on January 15th, 2020, a date which will be remembered by the people of coastal Karnataka forever.
The largest gathering in the history of Mangaluru was absolutely peaceful, law-abiding and respectful. While the slogans of ‘Azaadi’ were reverberating in the atmosphere, the protesters were seen making way for vehicles and passersby, taking care of women and helping elderly citizens on the highway adjacent to the ground. Though the organisers and most of the participants were Muslims, they collectively identified themselves as “We, the people of India”.
The district administration and the police department hadn’t imagined or even dreamt of such a mammoth gathering after blocking the highway and banning public transport from 9 am to 9 pm. Many opine that this action was taken only to discourage the concerned from participating in the protest and to create fear in the hearts of the people who are yet to process the unjustifiable deaths of two innocent citizens in an unwarranted police firing a few weeks ago.
What has since surprised the protesters most is the mainstream media’s blatant attempt to downplay the significance of this largest ever gathering. Shockingly, it could not make it to the front pages of any of the state-level Kannada daily newspapers except city-based Vaartha Bharathi. In the absence of The Hindu, which had announced a holiday on account of Makar Sankranti, most of the English newspapers too pitilessly buried the historic event in their inner pagers. National TV channels too were evidently reluctant to cover the event until NDTV started telecasting the news of the protest.
This uneasy relationship between the media and minorities in coastal Karnataka has long existed, but the non-coverage of the huge protest of Jan 15 marks a quantum leap beyond the media’s traditional pro-Sangh Parivar stance and biases –– which in the past had often demonised non-saffronites –– to now completely ignore and suppress the people’s voice. This media bias has naturally evoked a sharp response from netizens, who took to social media to issue clarion calls to boycott the mainstream media forever.
Cleanliness Drive
Most major protest meets and rallies –– both religious and political –– leave behind tonnes of garbage, especially water bottles, placards and buntings. However, the organisers of the Jan 15 protest meet led by example by launching a cleanliness drive in the area soon after the protesters left the venue peacefully. The drive continued on Jan 16 too. (Ironically, amidst this ongoing cleanliness drive, a local news portal captured photos of a few plastic bottles scattered along the road at Adyar and published a report accusing the event organisers and participants of polluting the area!)

Comments
Shame on Indian police for registering this kind of cases as even they know this has no basis in constitution.
they supported a cricket or sports team... even I supported UAE Team..I have my right to support any sports team..
PLEASE SEND SRI SRI RAVI SHANKER TO PAKISTANN PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE
IF HINDHU SAY THAT IS NABOUR CONUTY
IF MUSLIM SAYS HE IS TERROR ACCHE DIN WHA WHA /.
Hope all have gone through below news about shouting slogan in favor of pakistan by Sri Sri ravi shankar ... why you people have not commented on that ....
Pakistan Zindabad....india belong to muslim they ruled for 1000 years, we will take back glory soon.
Mohan; Sharvan, Preethi, Meghana...
Please open your mind and dont fall trap over & over on cheddi media... if You try to accept whatever said in the media again & again even after knowing their LIES ... What should we call U guys...
Dont just make Howdu basava howdu ... for everything which is said in the media ...Use your God given intellectual and stop supporting the aggressor ... cos a day will come when the one who gave this life will account for our deeds done in this LIFE... So stop supporting the aggressor without true knowledge which U might regret later ... as many regretted after becoming voilence with a false statement from the cheddi leaders
Yes these students does not know about what they are talking.
They should be kept behind the bar.
By the way what happened to SRI SRI art of living Swamy who said Pakistan Zindabad??? is he arrested.??
Indians can support any country in any game but when any match is having indian team they should support only india.
@ MEHHNA , PREETHI ,SHARAVAN, MOHAN, KARTHIK ,,
YES WE NEED TO PUNISH THEM HARD , SEND THEM TO PAKISTAN.. EVERYTHING WE WILL DO WT U SAID
SRI SRI SRI RAVI SHANKER SHOULD GO TOGETHER WITH THEM, WE WIL BOOK 3 SEATS IN FLIGHT L
Constitution did not tell citizens to support only Indian team. There is no law saying that, then why on the hell police arrested those innocent people and under which law. In a democracy you have right to chose or support any one you want. Its not a big deal. Pakistan is not our enemy at all, Modiji without informing anyone met Nawaz Sharief, Pakistani PM. It happened because of our friendliness with that country.
I am a good supporter of our Indian team but it does not mean that I impose same on other fellow Indians too.
Grow up guys.
When SRI SRI Shankar said Pakistan Zindabad no action, no arrest,
when a muslim said he is arrested.
INCRIDIBLE INDIA ! WHERE SRI SRI CAN CALL PUBLIC MEETS ! STUDENT JUST TYPED IN WHATSAPP THEY ARE ARRESTED !!
WHEN IS SRI SRI ARREST ! ??????????????/////
if they raised slogans in favor of our arch rival, than take strict action against them. But Please don't touch Desh Bhakt like Ravi shanker !
Send Sri Ravishanker along with Two students from puttur to Pakisthan...Law should be equal for all.Do not bring religion in between.
there is no muslim commentors now ... these two terrorists must be kicked out of india along with their families ... soole maklige they want all benefits here and loyalty to pakistan ... no mercy for these animals .muslims here give big lecturer about religion , but they dont teach manners and basics for their community members .
Yes Mohan should send them pakistan with Ravi sankar...
DEAR PRO-CHADDIS.....
WILL YOU SEND ME SOUTH AFRICA AND ENGLAND IF I SUPPORT HASHIM AMLA AND MOEEN ALI?????
WHEN YOU WILL SEND SRI SRI RAVISHANKAR PAKISTAN FOR CHANTING PAKISTAN ZINDABAD???? WHY NO ACTION ON HIM????
serious action must be taken against them. india the country of peace loving and this type of people misunderstood us for being soft, one thing always should be on head that how much soft we are double to that we could be hard rock.
Pakistan zindabad is slogan of owaisi chaddis. not Bharath matha ki Jai
Now a days its common, need to give proper punishment next time they have to think hundred times before calling this.
both student must be sent to the pakistan, the two dogs of pakistan
me before india started batting: hahahaha we got this wtf pakistAN ZINDABAD
me now: we are brothers and sisters we both win in 1947.....
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