Mangaluru : The self-proclaimed leaders of Hindutva have turned a blind eye even as the poor are being looted in the name of God and religion, said senior journalist and chief minister’s media advisor Dinesh Amin Mattu.

He was speaking during the 11th city annual convention of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) at Sahodaya in Balmatta on Sunday.

Mattu, meanwhile, criticised that ‘Hindutva’ or Hindu religion has not been revived by the people like Pejawar seer, Mohan Bhagawat or Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat. The real Hindu ideology has remained intact owing to the efforts of revolutionaries like Swami Vivekananda and Narayana Guru.

He asked why the self-acclaimed Hindu leaders do not speak on untouchability and superstitions, which are being used to exploit poor in the name of religion and God.
‘Stick to ideology’

Mattu opined that the Congress party has to return to history to reestablish the ideology of secularism. “In the pre-independence era, the national leaders had a unanimous ideology of patriotism till the concept of party-based leadership thrived. But, now, the party leaders get into publicity and maintain higher level contacts to gain grassroot-level command. Those who did not care about caste have now been maintaining that caste is a necessary identity. The Congress has to return to the era of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi who stood up for secularism in the nation,” he said.

Mattu also asked why the critics of the Indira Canteen have not been raising a hue and cry on tax exemption of Rs 42 lakh crore for industrialists and loans to the tune of Rs 10 lakh crore which has been raided-off. In comparison to these, the Rs 2.5 lakh crore, which is inclusive of all kinds of subsidies for poor is meagre, he pointed out. He condemned the privatisation of public enterprises like BSNL.

“SFI and DYFI have always been fighting for social causes, even though they haven’t been in the helm of affairs. But, it is high time for them to take to their fights to logical conclusion and concentrate towards achieving political representation,” he added.

DYFI state president Munir Katipalla, district president Sunil Kumar and secretary Santhosh Bajal were present.