Mangaluru : In the theme of ‘Respect for mankind’ a 9- day Karnataka Yatre of  Sunni Students Federation (SSF) silver jubilee celebration   concluded at  Neharu Maidan in Mangaluru  here on Nov 2, Sunday. 

The Karnataka Yatre had lunched on October 25 at Gulbarga  led by AP Abubaker Musliyar of Kanthapuram, culminated  in Mangaluru after covering 20 districts and  2700 kilometres in nine days though  – Bijapur, Bagalkot, Hubli, Haveri, Bellary, Davangere, Shimoga, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Hasan, Tumkur, Bangalore, Ramnagar, Mandya, Mysore, Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Inaugurated the ‘Human respect conference of  Karnataka Yatre  valedictory function on Sunday evening, before the rally  thousands of SSF activists began their march at  3:30 p.m. from Thaqwa Masjid at Pumpwell Circle  via Ambedkar Circle they reached Nehru Maidan.

After inaugurating  the conference Chief Minister Siddaramaiah  said that, the government would deal with acts of extremism or communalism with an iron fist irrespective of political pressures. He said that those indulging in such acts should remember that they would be harming their own brethren.

Further he said it was heartening to learn that Sulthanul Ulama A.P. Abubakar Musliyar Kanthapuram, the General Secretary of All India Muslim Scholars’ Association led the Yatre for about 2,700 kms from Kalaburgi to Mangaluru in nine days spreading the message of harmony.

With the improvement of literacy, it is tragic that more educated youth are deviating from the mainstream and resorting to extremism and communalism, Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

In such a situation, efforts to inculcate moral values among the youth were welcome.

If anybody indulges in extremist or communal activities, the government would not tolerate the same and would curb such acts, he said.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said some term his acts as appeasement of minorities. “But I am discharging the constitutional obligation of ensuring equality to all through many schemes and actions,” he said referring to welfare schemes and administrative actions.

He urged the massive gathering of the youth to vow that they would not indulge in extremist activities.

In his introductory address, Mr. Musliyar said that Muslims in India do not need any external forces for their support and they are against extremist activities.

At the same time, innocent people should not be tortured by governments, he demanded. Muslims in India want Kashmir as a part of India, not just physically, but with emotional bonding too.

Mr. Musliyar further said that Muslims needed suitable representation in politics too. The purpose of organising such a huge convention in Mangaluru was to showcase to the Chief Minister the strength of the community and demand its rightful share, he said.

Later he submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister urging for improving infrastructure in minority-run educational institutions, establishing a university by Tipu Sultan’s name, enforcing complete prohibition on alcohol and permanent solution to the Bababudangiri-Datta Peetha row.

Health minister UT Khader, district-in-charge minister Ramnath Rai, Urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, former minister Vishwantha, vice-chancellor of Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi, Pejawar math Vishvesha Teertha swamiji, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Milagres Fr Valerian D’Souza and sports minister Abhayachandra Jain among others were present