HINDUTVA - Indian Social Institute

ole as they are seen as the gatekeepers of the purity of Hindu caste society. For this project, it becomes
crucial for the Hindutva groups to ensure that Hindu women, as ‘the gatekeepers’, do not interact with
other communities. Lately, young women and men in Mangalore have been coming out of the family fold
in large numbers and interacting with other communities. Spurred by their education and exposure to the
world, they are making their own choices about whom to meet, what entertainment they want, what they
choose to wear and so on. This is not to the liking of the Hindutva groups. These attacks are an effort to
police the borders of Hindu caste society and make it narrow, self- enclosed and monolithic. It is an
attempt to keep women within the frameworks of the Hindu community and make them follow its
conventional norms.They are also a brazen attack on the Constitution of India as cultural policing
undermines the basic ideals of secularism and multicultural society enshrined in it. Due to the influence of
RSS, the entire campaign has enjoyed the tacit support of the state government. The ministers may fret
and fume but it is evident that they have no intention of taking any action. In fact, the DK police force
patronises the RSS. There is strong evidence that the local police has chosen to look the other way in
many cases of attacks and refused to take any action against the attackers who have acted in open
defiance of the law. Moreover, following an incident, the police harasses the victims and warns them to
follow the vigilante’s ‘advice’. Considering the state’s policy of calculated inaction, the judiciary seems to
be the only hope. We, as human rights groups, are contemplating approaching the High Court on this
issue. An individual has already filed a PIL seeking immediate action against those involved in the latest
attack at Padil.— The writer is member of People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Bengaluru and was part of a
fact finding team that put together a report on Cultural Policing in Dakshina Kannada- Vigilante Attacks on
Women and Minorities in 2008-09 (Asian Age 5/8/12)
Action sought against vedike leader (26)
MANGALORE: While demanding criminal proceedings against Hindu Jagaran Vedike’s convenor
Jagadish Karnath, speakers at a protest meeting here on Saturday questioned the statements made by
Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women C. Manjula regarding the recent attack on a
homestay here. Koumu Souharda Vedike’s K.L. Ashok sought criminal proceedings against Mr. Karanth
for his statement that those who were partying at the homestay were prostitutes. “There are videos
showing this statement. The police should take note of it and book him for defaming the victims of the
attack,” he said. Former Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission Philomena Peris said Ms.
Manjula was acting more like a Tourism Department official than a women’s commission Chairperson.
“She is more concerned about the homestay than the attack. Who is she to ask for the background of the
victims of the attack? Did we ask your background before your came to the post.” Ms. Peris said she was
dismayed over Ms. Manjula’s lack of concern for the suffering of victims of the attack. If the accused
behind the 2009 pub attack had been prosecuted such an attack would not have occurred, she said.
Former Minister Lalita Nayak said no organisation had any right to enter any premises and attack the
people there. “Women have freedom to live the way they like and wear the dress that suits them,” she
said. Writer Jyothi Guruprasad said the attacked students were in a piquant situation and were not a
position to understand what was moral and what was not. If the Hindu Jagaran Vedike was so concerned
about upholding morality then why it had not talked about the acts of Excise Minister Renukacharya and
former Minister Hartal Halappa. Journalist Gowri Lankesh held Rashtriya Swamyamsevak Sangh
responsible for the attack on the homestay. She said the vedike was among the organisations connected
with the RSS that had been involved in creating disturbance across the country. The RSS and its affiliated
organisations should be banned, she said. Lecturer Sabiha Bhoomigowda, activist Nagari Babaiah,
Congress leader P.V. Mohan and National Women’s Front’s Chairperson Shaheed Tasneem spoke. (The
Hindu 5/8/12)
Keshubhai’s resignation: ‘BJP should introspect’(26)