Muslim groom booked for hurting Koragajja devotees apologises
Mangaluru: A groom, who was booked for hurting religious sentiments during a wedding ceremony, by dressing up as Koragajja—a demigod revered in Tulunadu—at Salethoor in Vittal, has uploaded a video, where he has apologised for his action, on Saturday.
Umarulla Bashith from Uppala in Kerala, apologised for the incident in a video shared on social media. Bashith’s friend, who shared the video with TOI, said that the incident of dressing up as Koragajja was not intended to hurt anyone.
“During my wedding ceremony, my friends did it for fun. It was not intended to hurt the Koraga community or any other caste. I have faith and respect towards all castes. I apologise if it hurt anyone,” Bashith said in a 33-second video.
Meanwhile, another video of him extending apologies has also gone viral on social media platforms.
Bashith had arrived at the house of his bride, dressed up as Koragajja, while his friends danced beside him in Salethoor at Kolnad village in Bantwal on Thursday. The video of the incident went viral the next day. Based on a complaint, Vittal police registered a case under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and 295 of the IPC (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class). Police said the case is being investigated.
VHP calls for mass prayers on Tuesday
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called upon temples, daivasthanas and bhajana mandirs in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod districts to hold special prayers on Tuesday, to stop instances of desecration of Koragajja shrines, temples and daivastanas.
VHP zonal secretary Sharan Pumpwell said that several instances of desecration of Hindu gods and daivas, reported in the past, have hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. “Ridiculing Hindu Gods and daivaradhane, sharing pictures hurting religious sentiments on social media, desecrating holy Nagabanas, placing condoms in donation boxes of temples, daivastanas, bhajana mandirs and dancing dressed as Koragajja have hurt the religious sentiments of lakhs of Hindus. Hindu religious shrines in coastal districts should hold special prayers seeking divine intervention, to punish those who are behind such acts,” Sharan said.
He requested the management of Hindu religious shrines, religious leaders, organisations and devotees to unite to protect religious places in their respective regions.
BJP state president and Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said the government will not tolerate the efforts of anti-national forces to disturb peace in the coastal districts. He directed the police to act tough against the accused in the Vittal incident.
Courtesy : TOI
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