Massive Rally and Convention

26 November 2006, Sunday, Bangalore

Over 20000 people will gather in Bangalore under the coalition banner of Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike to warn the Government that if immediate action is not taken to control the communal voices in Karnataka, they will have to leave the seat of power!

Rally from Malleshwaram grounds, 10.30 am
Inauguration: Girish Karnad, noted playwright and Jnanpith Awardee

Convention: Jakkarayanekere Grounds (near Majestic) 2 pm

Inauguration: Sri Siddalinga Mahaswamiji, Tontadarya Matha, Gadag

Introductory address: K.L. Ashok and Sanath Kumar Belagali, State Secretaries, Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike

Performances by Fayaz Khan (rendition of Vachanas) and Sumathi (rendition of Sufi songs)

The Convention will bring together over 40 speakers from different progressive and secular organizations. The main speakers at the Convention will include:

- Teesta Setalvad, Editor, Communalism Combat
- Dr. Darshan Pal, Convenor, RDF, Haryana
- Gauri Lankesh, Editor, Lankesh
- K.M. Sharief, State President, Karnataka Forum for Dignity

Cultural teams from across Karnataka and India will perform at the convention as an expression of the determination of the people to fight the communal forces in the State.

The Convention will bring together all progressive forces, Dalit organizations, women’s rights organization, minority community organizations, farmers’ movement, students movements etc in the State under one banner in its attempt

· to stop the increasing communalization of Karavalli along the lines of Gujarat

· to protest against the infiltration of the communal forces into the State machinery in the current coalition government

· to pressurize the Govt to maintain the harmonious atmosphere at Bababudangiri, Chikmaglur

The Rally and Convention has been organised by the Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike to express dissatisfaction with the action taken by the Government in controlling the communal forces and to warn the Government that concrete measures have to be taken if the situation in Chikmaglur and Dakshin Kannada district is to remain normal.

Through the years, the Vedike has consistently carried forward its campaign against communalization uniting all progressive and secular voices under one banner.

We hope it will be possible for you to walk with us again this year and support us in every possible way.

To read more the communal situation in Mangalore:
http://www.sabrang.com/cc/archive/2006/nov06/cover7.html

To read more about the increasing communalization process across Karnataka:
http://www.sabrang.com/cc/archive/2006/sep06/index.html

‘Bababudangiri will never be the Ayodhya of the South'

Most of you are aware of the Sangh Parivar's attempts to destroy the secular fabric in Karnataka by targeting the Baba-Datta shrine on Bababudangiri near Chikmagalur. An example of syncretic traditions in the state, the shrine attracts people of different faiths seeking their God in a common shrine.

The Sangh Parivar has been targeting the shrine on Bababudangiri with the sole intention of destroying this tradition in the name of 'liberating' the shrine from Muslims. In order to achieve their narrow sectarian goal, they have been creating unwanted disputes, putting up historically untenable and legally substantial arguments.

Further, they have introduced previously non-existent religious practices like Datta-Mala Abhiyan, Shobha Yatra and Datta Jayanthi celebrations every year in the months of October, November and December. It is obvious that their main purpose is neither religion nor faith but to target the Muslim community as 'outsiders' who are bent on destroying the 'Hindu' tradition and culture.

Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike has through the years exposed the Sangh Parivar's farcical claims about the shrine, thwarted their intentions and successfully countered their agenda through its ideology of aggressive secularism.

This year, the BJP has aligned with the Janata Dal (S) to form a coalition government which has thus far supported the communal agenda of the Sangh Parivar. Clear evidence of this was visible in the first week of October during the communal violence in and around Mangalore and in Bababudangiri at the time of the Datta Mala Abhiyan.

To read more about the communalization of Bababudangiri and the Vedike’s campaign through the years:
http://www.sabrang.com/cc/archive/2004/jan04/bbarrier.html