Dance row: Never issued 'Fatwa', clarifies Puttur cleric

February 6, 2014

Puttur, Feb 6: After a few television channels and newspapers on Wednesday reported dubbed a local cleric's advice to Muslim students to refrain from dancing on stages as 'fatwa', the cleric clarified that he had merely advised the students studying in the madrasa not to indulge in Yakshagana and other dance forms.

Speaking in the presence of people in a public meeting held in the school on Wednesday evening, cleric of Kodippadi masjid Aboobaker Madani clarified that the advice was not made in the context of cultural programmes in schools, as misquoted in the media, and that it was not a 'fatwa'.

He said that it was true that he had given such an instruction to the children that it was wrong to participate in dance performances on stage. However, it is left to the students to follow the instructions or not. We have no authority to speak about the cultural programmes conducted in the school. It is left to the parents if their children should take part in the cultural activities or not, he said.

The block education officer who was also present at the meeting said that no person had the right to suppress the freedom of children. Only the parents have the right over this. Religion and caste should not be brought in matters of education in schools. This confusion should be eliminated, he said.

The reports in the media stating that the cleric had issued a fatwa prohibiting girls from participating in stage programmes in a particular school in Kodippadi had sparked confusion and controversy in the region.

Few locals who had gathered in the school questioned the reports in newspapers and local television channels that alleged the cleric issuing a fatwa. They expressed anger alleging that few elements were trying to spoil the peace and harmony in the town by spreading such false rumours.

A few others alleged that taluk panchayat member Zohra had a hand in attempting to spark a row by spreading the false rumour of a fatwa.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

JD(S) leader G T Devegowda backs CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA row, taunts HDK

News Network

October 4,2024

Mysuru: Chairman of JD(S) core committee and Chamundeshwari constituency MLA G T Devegowda on Thursday expressed his solidarity with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the latter need not resign, while lambasting leaders of his own party and alliance partner BJP, including Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

In his speech during Mysuru Dasara inauguration he said that if persons against whom FIR is registered have to resign, many leaders from all the three parties, including Opposition Leader R Ashoka, will have to resign.

“All are sitting in glass houses... Since I know Siddaramaiah well, I am talking about him. At a time when mines and real estate are ruling politics, Siddaramaiah has survived in politics. He has never done any favour,” Devegowda said.

He added, “Allegations against Siddaramaiah are unexpected and accidental. If the Governor and Chief Justice order an investigation, it does not mean that he should resign."

He continued, asking, "Have they told Siddaramaiah to resign or have they asked to imprison him? When a person becomes a Central minister, he or she should realise their dignity and responsibility. Instead of recognising the good work done by Siddaramaiah, they ask him to resign. Will Kumarswamy (facing an FIR) resign? Should Siddaramaiah, who has become CM with a support of 135 MLAs, resign?"

"Opposition leaders are not remembering the good work of earlier CMs Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Veerendra Patil, Ramakrishna Hegde, H D Deve Gowda or S M Krishna. Karnataka is a model state. It is a bad trend to topple an elected government which is doing good work,” he further said.

Devegowda added, “Siddaramaiah is Goddess Chamundeshwari’s ‘Varaputra’ and hence has her blessings during tough times. He won the election in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, when the BJP-JD(S) government was in power in 2006. With the blessings of the Goddess, he has held varied positions right from becoming an MLA for the first time in 1983. He presented 15 budgets and has become CM for a second time. He took H C Mahadevappa, a Dalit leader to the state level. Siddaramaiah has the support of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar as ‘Jodeththu’. Blessings of the beneficiaries of guarantee schemes are with him (Siddaramaiah).”

Siddaramaiah said, “Devegowda was a MUDA member. He knows the truth. Hence, he is saying this. His words have filled strength in me. ‘Satyameva Jayate’, Truth will always triumph.”

Comments