Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada District in-charge minister B. Ramanath Rai on Saturday said that the organizers will be held responsible, if any programmes promoting hatred leads to communal clash.

Mr. Rai said in the wake of communal clash in Karaya and many pockets of Dakshina Kannada, post Virat Hindu Sangam (convention) in Puttur recently. Besides, Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP) will also be holding another huge Hindu Convention on March 1 here in the city.

The district in-charge minister said that the he will hold a meeting with the police officers to take stringent action against those who provoke communal violence. “Any clash will not only disrupt peace but troubles the innocent citizens”, he said.

He also condemned those people with criminal records holding demonstrations demanding the release of ‘innocents’. Hence, the organizers must note that action will be initiated against them, if the programmes provoke communal disturbance in the city, he said.

On congress party worker Vittal Vijaynath Shetty, who is presiding over the Hindu convention, Mr. Rai said that he was mere party worker and not an officer bearer of the congress. Such people, he said referring to Mr. Shetty, would go anywhere, if they are given a seat. Consider him that we have expelled him from the party; he said replying when asked if Mr. Shetty is still in the party.

He said it is easy to become a mass leader, by making provoking statements, mocking another religion. This is what the so-called pro-Hindu activists are doing. He said it is not easy to become a mass leader by serving people. Hence, most of them choose the former, he added.