Hindutva groups warn of staging a protest if Muslim vendors are not banned from carrying out their business during the historic temple fair at the Siddheshwar Temple of Vijayapura, Karnataka On Tuesday.
In the early hours of the day, Hindutva groups including Sri Rama Sene assembled outside the Siddheshwar Temple, demanding that Muslims should not be allowed to put up their stalls at the upcoming religious fair organised every year on Makar Sankranti.
The groups said that they would submit a memorandum to BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal regarding the issue.
Amidst the preparation for the fair which has been organised for more than a century now, welcoming devotees from North Karnataka and Maharashtra, the Hindutva activists claimed that Muslims are not allowed to conduct business at Hindu temple premises and fairs in many parts of the state, and hence the same should be followed at Siddeshwara Sankramana fair. Failing which, they will stage a protest they said.
Moreover, the members have said that the Muslim community has “hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus through cow slaughter, beef consumption, Love Jihad, etc”, calling out for an economic boycott of Muslims during the fair.
A similar instance was seen in Mangalore city of Karnataka only a few weeks ago, which refused to allow the poor Muslim vendors to set up stalls.
Over the years, several Right-wing Hindutva groups are reported to have called people to the economic as well as social boycott of the Muslims, which has been on the rise in the past few months.
