With Assembly polls due in Karnataka in 10 months, legislators belonging to the ruling BJP have appealed to Sangh pariwar leaders to put an end to moral policing before it affects the party’s prospects.
Some RSS bigwigs too have joined the chorus against Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) activists, who stormed a home stay facility in Mangalore on Saturday and allegedly molested several girls. They feel any delay on the part of the BJP government in acting against the culprits, will definitely spoil the party’s poll chances. They have even backed the demand made by the Opposition in the legislature—that the Vedike activists be booked under the tough Goonda Act.
A BJP legislator from the coastal district told Deccan Chronicle: “After the incident, we told Sangh leaders not to encourage such activity by the so-called protectors of Hindu culture. Their actions in the past four years, have embarrassed us and also damaged the party’s image.” The MLA felt hooliganism was spreading in the district because of the dilution of Hindutva ideology. “Some bad elements have infiltrated HJV and other RSS backed outfits. They are extorting money and blackmailing businessmen. We have requested Parivar leaders to keep these anti-socials out”.
He admitted the BJP’s image had been dented because of moral policing acts. “The Morning Mist attack was the last thing we wanted”, he added. Mangalore MLA and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Yogish Bhat said the shameful act by HJV activists would affect the party prospects in the 2013 Assembly elections. He felt some of the damage would be undone by the developmental works carried out by the state government in Dakshina Kannada district. “Still, we may face a hard time compared to the 2008 Assembly polls which we swept the region,” he said.
Dakshina Kannada district zilla panchayat member Sathish Kumpal was confident the attack would have no impact on the party’s prospects. “Public memory is short. People will forget everything in 3-4 months”, he reasoned. A legislator loyal to former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa, was sure the high handed behaviour of Parivar members would affect the BJP’s image. With the party in a state of shock after the resignation of Kundapur MLA Haladi Sreenivas Shetty, the Mangalore attack would only worsen its chances, he said.