After attack in Mangalore, Sri Ram Sene eyes 'pub city'

After Mangalore, it could well be the turn of Bangalore pubs. Irked by the term Pub City used for Bangalore, founder of Sri Ram Sene Pramod Mutalik told MiD DAY that he wanted all the pubs in the city to be closed.

"Bangalore is notorious for its pubs. It is not our culture and we need to stop it. We want all the pubs in Bangalore to be closed. The 11-pm deadline set by the police is good. It helps in curtailing unlawful activities," said Pramod Mutalik.

When asked how he would ensure that pubs are closed, he said, "We need police cooperation. We will do whatever we can do. Maybe we will first hold a dharna," he said.

On women drinking, he said, "Drinking alcohol is not our culture. Whether it is men or women, no one should consume alcohol. So we want the state government to ban liquor in the state.'

Mutalik said the attack in Mangalore was a "very small incident which is being blown out of proportion by a news channel. Our activists did not beat any woman or molest them. The women were running and they fell down. We did beat the men accompanying the women. The incident is blown up just to tarnish the BJP's image.
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Renuka Choudhury has no business to comment from Delhi. She is a Congress person. I openly say that Congress is making this incident look big."

'Read Vachanas'

Former BJP MLA and former Women's Commission chairperson Pramila Nesargi condemned the act. "Who are they to do moral policing? This is a state of Basaveshwara. In his 'vachanas', he has said that we are no one to correct the fallacies of the world. Each person has to only see to their own deeds. As for alcohol, some castes offer alcohol to god's and goddesses. It is a person's own choice. If he or she wants to drink, they have the freedom to go ahead. Our Constitution gives us the right. As for Mutalik, before he can think of anything else he should be arrested," she said.

Inspector general of police Sri Kumar blamed the media saying it should have informed them instead of rushing there.

On Saturday, a 40-member team belonging to Sri Ram Sene attacked a pub in Mangalore.