Members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have put up saffron flags in the shops of all Hindu traders in the Mangala Devi temple complex in Mangalore, Karnataka. VHP’s Dakshina Kannada district president HK Purushottam Dattanagar says that on the occasion of festivals, all the temples in the district should allow only Hindu traders to do business.
A.Chk.Purushottam said that these days the festive season is going on. In such a situation, we thank the management committee of Mangala Devi temple who provided the opportunity to Hindu traders to do business during the festival. He said that it was not right for the district administration to hand over stalls to non-Hindu people. Along with this, he said that we have the right on the religious place where there is no provision for people of other communities to do business on Rath Beedi.
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Demonstration in support of Muslim traders
On the other hand, on Friday, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District Utsav Traders Coordination Committee had protested in support of Muslim traders. During this time, the Utsav Traders Coordination Committee had demanded stalls for Muslim traders. After which some Muslim traders were allowed to participate in the auction of space for stalls.
‘Devotees should visit shops with saffron flag’
Raising questions on this decision of the administration, HK Purushottam said that under the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act 1997, there is no provision to allow non-Hindus to do business on Rath Beedi. He said that all Hindu traders are dependent only on business during festivals which is their main means of livelihood. In such a situation, all the devotees should go to only those shops which have saffron flags.
‘VHP is creating rift among Hindu-Muslim businessmen’
DYFI has condemned this step of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. DYFI says that Vishwa Hindu Parishad is creating a rift between poor Hindu and Muslim businessmen. DYFI District President BK Imtiaz urged the district administration to ensure the safety of all traders in Mangala Devi temple as well as other temples.
Source: www.tv9hindi.com”