Mangaluru: The coastal hamlet of Ullal was painted saffron on Sunday as the BJP’s Tiiranga Yathre surged the city. The event evoke massive response with BJP’s National President Amit Shah himself taking part in the event.
Shah who rode pillion with MP Nalin Kumar Kateel came to Abbakka’s land-Ullal as per the wish of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pay tribute to India’s first freedom fighter-Rani Abbakka.
Addressing the Tiranga Convention in Mangalore University campus, Shah said that now a days, it has become a fashion to question nationalism in the name of freedom of expression.
“For all those who are raising questions on nationalism, I want to tell them that if not for nationalism, there would not have been freedom and without freedom there would have been no Constitution. If this scenario continues, what will be the identity of our country and what will be the kind of lessons you are teaching our youth,” he questioned adding that country can remain united only if idea of patirotism and nationalism is upheld.
“Our freedom fighters raised slogan of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and as a mark of their love for this country our fighters sang ‘Vande Mataram’. Today questions are being raised on even these two issues. This is a painful juncture of time,” Shah lamented adding that it was ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ that propelled youth during the freedom struggle to plunge into the struggle and even sacrifice their lives for the sake of the country.
“I have no problem if you question a party or an ideology, but in the name of freedom of speech if one propagates anti-national ideologies and hate, it will not be tolerated,” he said.
BSY next CM
While addressing the gathering, Amit Shah made it clear that B S Yeddyurappa will be the next CM candidate of the BJP for Karnataka, by addressing him as ‘the future CM’. He said that due to Modi governance at the centre, the way the world looks at India has changed.
Union Minister Sadananda Gowda, addressing the gathering said that Mangaluru needs to be alert because it is situated between two precarious pockets- Bhatkal and Kasargod, which have become notorious for links with terror activities.
Earlier, on arriving at Mangalore from Goa, Shah first planted a sapling at BJP office in Mangaluru city and then took part in a motorcycle rally from Pumpwell circle to Ullal. He then paid tribute to Rani Abbakka in Ullal in presence of BJP state Preisdent B S Yeddyurappa and others. Shah opined that Abbakka Rani has not got the recognition that she turly deserved for her valour and courage.
