Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Congress has defended Prathibha Kulai’s statement against Sangh Parivar and said that it would file a complaint with the Mangaluru Police Commissioner for threatening the leader and her family, post her remarks.
Addressing a press meet at the party office here on February 12, Corporator Ashok D K said, “During a protest rally organised by the Yuva Congress’ Karkala unit, KPCC Women’s Wing General Secretary, Chairperson of Standing Committee on Tax Appellate and Finance Committee, MCC Corporator Prathibha Kulai had lashed out at the Sangh Parivar for playing with the life of innocent youth with an intention to create social divide. She had urged the youth from the backward community not to fall prey to the communal elements and stay away from anti-societal activities. She had urged the youth to strive to maintain peace and harmony at a time when communal elements like Sangh Parivar were trying to disrupt peace. Some people are spreading false propaganda on social media against her. “
Ashok also informed that the party unit would meet the police commissioner and file a complaint for making threat calls to her and her family. “There have been several derogatory posts targeting Prathibha Kulai on social media which are going viral. We will urge the police to take action against those people making those posts viral on social media.”
Prathibha Kulai, justifying her statement, said, “As a woman coming from a backward community, I do have concern for the society and our youth. Several youth from our community have become victims to communal forces. Some innocent youth have lost lives being in these organisations. In such incidents, the BJP has tried to play politics over the dead bodies. When their own party workers are behind the bars for criminal activities, BJP has not even visited them. Hence I urged the youth present at the protest rally not to join such communal organisations and cautioned them. This is not the first time I have made such statements. During live debates and other occasions, I have made similar statements in the presence of the same BJP leaders. It was not an issue then but now, when election is approaching, my statement has been going viral. A small group of people is trying to destroy peace in Dakshina Kannada. I have not spoken against any religion neither have I killed anyone. I only spoke the truth. I have a right to speak and I live in a democratic country.”
“They have been abusing me and my family members on social media post my remarks. I will approach the police commissioner and cyber crime police to take action against those spreading false propaganda to tarnish my personal image. Fake slogans against me and my family have been spread on social media. They have also asked to cancel my membership from the party. I am ready to cancel it and I also want the membership of MLA Sunil Kumar and other BJP leaders who have made provocative statements, to be cancelled.”
President of the D K District Women’s Congress Committee Shalet Pinto said that those who wanted to burn Dakshina Kannada and made provocative statements that the elections will be fought between Ram and Allah thereby ruining the minds of the innocent, poor youth of our district were involved in false propaganda. “When we make statements to be away from communal forces, it is with an intention to help the youth of our community. These forces are spreading false propaganda against us. Their leaders like Shobha Karandlaje often use derogatory, abusive language which they have been justifying”, she said adding that they would take the incident seriously and demand strict action against those maligning the image of a woman.
