Renuka Chowdhry condemns Mangalore incident

Terming the alleged assault of girls and boys in a Mangalore pub by a Hindu group as an attempt to "talibanise India", union minister Renuka Chowdhry on Sunday said she will seek an explanation from the Karnataka Government on the issue.

"I am absolutely horrified at the insensitivity on the eve of Republic Day. I will seek an explanation from the Karanataka Government as well as self-styled Sri Ram Sene," the Women and child development minister said.

About 15 to 20 activists, reportedly belonging to Sri Ram Sene, barged into the pub late on Saturday night and assaulted boys and girls dancing there, accusing the teens of behaving in an "obscene manner".

"This (the incident) is an attempt to Talibanise India. There is no place for these kind of acts in India as it is a democracy," Chowdhry said, adding that the BJP leaders should condemn the incident.

The minister also said it is time for Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa to "wake up" and take action against the culprits.

She said she will speak to Yeddurappa on the incident.

Ten suspected activists of Sri Ram Sene were arrested and remanded to judicial custody till January 27 on Sunday, on charges of assaulting the guests of the pub, police said.