Zeenews Bureau
Bangalore, Jan 29: A day after Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot announced he will eliminate pub-culture, Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa seemed toeing the Ram Sena line when he said he will not allow pub culture to grow in the state.
“It is a most unfortunate that this incident (assault of women in a Mangalore pub last week) happened but we will not allow pub culture to grow in Karnataka,” he said.
"Anyhow, we are not going to allow such incidents to happen again in the state. Nobody should take law into their hands and it is very unfortunate. That is why I have taken immediate action and the situation is under control," he added.
He also dithered on the issue of banning right-wing
group Sri Rama Sene whose activists have been arrested for
last Saturday's pub incident in Mangalore in which girls and
boys were thrashed. "We will discuss it with the police
officers and I will discuss it with the cabinet."
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who has accused
the erswtwhile Vasundhara Raje BJP government of bringing in
"liquor culture", said in Jaipur the move to end pub culture
in the State had nothing to do with the Mangalore incident.
However, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit saw
nothing wrong in boys and girls going out together to malls
when asked to comment on Gehlot voicing reservations in this
regard.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said
he is against all "uncivilised behaviour."
Gehlot said, "My feelings have nothing to do with the
Mangalore episode. My feelings are my own and in the
interest of Rajasthan and its culture".
He had drawn flak for his comments that he wanted to
end the culture of boys and girls roaming around in malls
holding hands.
Assuring strong action against the culprits, BJP’s first Chief Minister in the south said that his party has no connection with the Sena.
"Sri Rama Sena has no connection with BJP or any other political party. It is an individual organisation," the Chief Minister said.
Disclosing that the state has so far arrested 33 people including Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik, Yeddyurappa said, "From the government's side, we have taken action and we will continue to take strong action against affiliations.
The culprits, he said, are currently booked under the charges of criminal conspiracy, rioting, and also added that the police is also mulling to slap Goonda Act on the Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik and his party members who were arrested in connection with the Mangalore pub attack earlier this week.
He further accused the opposition Congress party for fuelling the matter further as it could not “digest” the growing popularity of BJP govt in the state.
Stressing that the BJP has a track record in the welfare of women, he said that the police has been given full liberty to pursue action against the culprits.
First Published: Thursday, January 29, 2009, 00:00