Mysuru: Thousands of people from all walks of life have taken part in the formation of a human chain to express their solidarity with Karnataka for Harmony.
Activists formed the chain from the Kote Anjaneyaswamy temple at the Palace Fort and carried placards deprecating communalism and the highlighting the imperatives of maintaining social harmony.
Writers, artists, intellectuals, religious leaders, secular political leaders, lawyers, workers, peasants, students, youth, and women participated in the Human Chain enthusiastically on January 30.
The chain was a stupendous culmination of a vibrant campaign against communal and fascist forces in Karnataka, particularly triggered by the dastardly killing of Dr. M. M. Kalburgi.
“I believe it is important to stand for Constitutional values of equality, dignity and non-discrimination in every public space, especially the streets,” Teesta Setalvad, a civil rights activist and journalist, told Matters India.
She is the secretary of Citizens for Justice and Peace, an organization formed for fighting for justice for the victims of communal violence in the state of Gujarat in 2002.
“Our public spaces are being taken over by the mob aligned to the un-Constitutional, proto-fascist forces that govern the country. The police are displaying partisan and communal biases. It is critical for programmes such as this to be organized,” she added.
Actor Prakash Raj who was among the participants said Karnataka has a history of amity and harmony and this movement and protest against communalism has stemmed from people themselves. People are fed up of this politics of communalism and it was a lesson to those fomenting trouble in society, reported the Hindu.
“There is a silent majority in the State and it is time for them to unite and thwart the designs of such forces,” Mr. Raj said. “The people of the State want peace and a sense of fearlessness with the right to protest and voice their views. The public response to the human chain has reinforced my faith in society,” he added.
Mr. Raj said people were not fools and the real issues were employment and job creation, farmers’ struggles and fair price for agricultural produce but there were forces trying to hoodwink the public and mislead them by creating communal tension in society.
In reply to a question he said, “We appeal to the people not to blindly cast their vote for a particular caste or get swayed by money power.”
The organisers said Karnataka is known for peace and harmony but in recent times there have been attempts to ignite communal flames, jeopardising social harmony.
They said such politically motivated attempts were alien to the culture of the land and hence the human chain was organised to coincide with the Martyrs’ Day on Tuesday as the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi too fell victim to the bullets of communal forces.