Mangaluru : Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai on Monday stressed the need for maintaining communal harmony in the district in the backdrop of the recent clashes around Uppinangady.

The Minister said the guilty, whoever they may be, would be brought to book and strictly dealt with by the law.

Speaking to presspersons here, Mr. Rai said the disturbances were primarily caused by hate speeches in public functions and one should not resort to such provocations.

Asked whether the government would ban such programmes, Mr. Rai said it could not because that would be termed as being against freedom of speech.

It was for the people to boycott programmes and personalities spreading communal hatred.

The Minister said the Congress was committed to protect secularism and the government would not tolerate repetitions of such instances.

When pointed about the founding of Bharatiya Hindu Parishad by a Congress worker in Puttur, Mr. Rai sought to distance the Congress from the outfit and said the party had no connections with it.

Meanwhile, the Popular Front of India, Dakshina Kannada unit, has sought action against persons disturbing peace and tranquillity in the district.

Talking to reporters here on Monday, PFI district president A.M. Ataullah said some groups were trying to disturb peace in the area by resorting to stone throwing in Karaya near Uppinangady on January 16 and damaging of shops and vehicles in the last few days.

Mr. Attaullah said there had been provocative speeches by Vishwa Hindu Parishad Dakshina Bharat Pramukh Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, VHP international unit working president Praveen Togadia and local VHP leader Arun Puttige at the Virat Hindu Samagama held in Puttur on January 16 that had hurt a section of society.

He said these provocative speeches had been brought to the notice of the police. “We will wait for another two days to see what action police would take. If they do not do, we will file a complaint,” he said.