Attacks on Women - Barbarism dawns in Mangalore

Saturday's attack on four women in a pub here signals the dawn of Barbarism in this city of "resourceful people" though the local police have arrested ten youths involved in the attack, there is not another voice that has risen to condemn it, the various associations, political parties and even the PUCL have not raised an alarm till Monday morning.

The attack also is the first of its kind and perhaps the Gujarat model of keeping law and order will herald from Mangalore, It is here that the leaders of various groups like Jagadish Karanth, Pramod Muthalik, Vinay Shetty, Mahendra Kumar have vowed to make Karnataka another Gujarat, however it is not clear to the right thinking people if it was the Gujarat development model or the destruction model, But it looks like Mangalore’s fundamentalist groups have taken the responsibility of moral policing of the city and it is likely that this model is going to be replicated all over the state and Bajrang Dal and Sri Rama Sene are bracing up for joint action against "misled youngsters", a close confidante of the top BJP leader told Mangalorean.com that similar "social correction" measures will be carried out in other cities particularly in Bangalore in coming days.

Sounds alarming, but these groups are determined to do it as their political masters in the BJP are firmly backing them up with all the resources at its disposal. What is the "social correction?" these groups are talking about? Sudhir, district convener of Sri Rama Sene says "there is lot of upheaval in the society, alcoholism, pub culture, meaningless partying, obscene dancing which includes soft pornographic positions and open caressing and kissing has become common among the youth. Such open show of lust is not our culture".

For the first time since the Bajrang Dal and Sri Rama sene have parted their ways, came together on Saturday to carry out a joint operation. "There is equanimity among us when it comes to saving our culture” says Harish Hegde of Bajrang Dal. "There could be some organizational differences among Bajrang Dal and Sri Rama Sene but that will not hinder our way of functioning and what’s more? Together we are stronger and stand better chances in foiling the sinister designs that the new youngsters are adopting in their social lives."

But where are all the whistle blowers? The Mangaloreans are perplexed, the left parties and Congress who used to be so vocal about such things have clammed up, the DYFI has not raised a little finger about it, even the great fighter of the city People’s Union for Civil Liberty (PUCL) led by Mr. P.B. D'Sa has not reacted all the social activist groups have shown a dignified silence in the city.

The city also has a unit of All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) having fire brand leaders like Brinda Karat is yet to rise to the occasion. There are some voices raised in Mumbai and Delhi like Madhu Kishwar which have appeared in the section of the print media but when it comes to the local situation Mangaloreans are left to fend for themselves in this frenzy of communal and hate politics.