Bangalore: Close on the heels of the violence unleashed by activists of the Sri Ram Sene on women in a Mangalore pub last Saturday, chief minister BS Yeddyurappa said "pub culture will not be allowed to grow" in Karnataka.
Yeddyurappa spoke after attending a conference of BJP chief ministers in NewDelhi on Thursday. He indicated that the state would keep a strict watch on pubs and bars.
On Thursday the chief minister said the Mangalore incident was "unfortunate"; he said the state government was considering invoking the stringent Karnataka Anti-Goonda Act, 1985, to book those accused of barging into the pub and molesting women. Those booked under this law are liable to be arrested immediately and detained.
Speaking to DNA, home minister VS Acharya corroborated the chief minister's views on "pub culture", saying youth and women should not be influenced by it.
Asked if the government intended to withdraw licences issued to pubs in the state, he said the issue would be discussed and appropriate action taken.
Yeddyurappa said a "stray" incident had been blown out of proportion by the opposition and a section of the media to tarnish his government's and the BJP's image ahead of the Lok Sabha election due in April.
Yeddyurappa insisted the Sene had no link with the BJP or the RSS. He claimed that within eight hours of the incident, 13 persons were arrested while 33 were held in the next two days, including Sene founder Pramod Muthalik and leader Prasad Attavar. He said the situation is "completely normal".
Readers' comments:
We should not follow the Western culture completely. Pub culture could either destroy the life of a young girl or a boy or will make them indifferent to life, bringing unhappiness. Be careful boys and girls. Concentrate more on a career and good living.
Friday, February 6, 2009 11:14 IST
shettid
We are all mistaking Yeddy's statement. He may be saying he will not tolerate pub culture at particular spots; he probably wants everyone to follow it at home.
Saturday, January 31, 2009 10:05 IST
Ramakant
Is he a chief minister or cheap minister? It is better for him to get out from the post of CM. He has no right to take the freedom of other citizens. It would be better if he reads these comments from the citizens of Karnataka.
Friday, January 30, 2009 15:59 IST
Chinna
Dear Mr BSY, women being trashed in broad daylight by a mob of hooligans in the name of moral policing may seem like a stray incident blown out of proportion to you, but what about those victims? Is this what we call democracy, where people don't even have a right to choose for themselves between good and bad? Are you delibrately breeding groups of hooligans like the Ram Sene and engaging them in such outrageous attacks to fulfil your party's fanatical ideologies? Are you trying to tell us that the Mangalore incident was the correct way to deal with "pub culure" and that more incidents will follow? Do you know how much the state government earns through the liquor industry? And what exactly do you mean by "pub culture"?
Friday, January 30, 2009 14:47 IST
srini
It's sad to hear that Yeddyurappa, the guardian of India's biggest IT hub Bangalore, and Ghelot seem to be indirectly supporting the people who slapped and kicked the girls in Mangalore. Is beating up women or behaving in an indecent manner with them a part of our culture? The girls who were beaten up are daughters, sisters and friends of somebody. This is disgusting. For God's sake these girls are earning and doing what they feel best with their money. If men in our country can do whatever they want using their hard-earned money, why can't the women have some fun?
Friday, January 30, 2009 14:03 IST
Lourembam Nishank
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