Central BJP leadership stalls the dramatic induction of Muthalik

Bangalore, March 23 (IANS) A wary BJP central leadership late Sunday hurriedly stalled the dramatic induction of Pramod Muthalik, chief of Hindu outfit Sri Ram Sene, into the party hours after his admission at Hubli.

 

"Induction of Pramod Muthalik has been set aside under the direction of the party’s central leadership for various reasons," Bharatiya Janata Party’s Karnataka unit spokesman M. Prakash told IANS here.

 

Earlier, amid much fanfare at Hubli, about 430 km from here, the 61-year-old Muthalik joined the BJP in the presence of state unit president P. Prahlad Joshi, former chief minister Jagdish Shettar, former deputy chief minister K.S. Eswarappa and scores of Sri Ram Sene activists.

 

In a damage-control exercise to douse the rage in social media over Muthalik’s admission, the BJP leadership directed Joshi to withdraw the latter’s membership post-haste.

 

Local TV channels had telecast live Joshi garlanding Muthalik on the occasion and party leaders exchanging sweets with the controversial leader.

 

Claiming he was joining the BJP to strengthen the hands of prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Muthalik told reporters he was not an aspirant for a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections.

 

"I have joined BJP unconditionally to campaign for the party anywhere and ensure that Modi becomes prime minister to provide a decisive leadership," Muthalik said.

 

Muthalik, who heads the outfit named after Hindu god Rama and his army, was allegedly behind violent incidents against young women and attacks on churches in the state’s coastal districts during the party’s regime in the state.

 

In January 2009, Sene activists indulged in ’moral policing’ by attacking young women at a pub in Mangalore, about 350 km from Bangalore.

 

Justifying the attacks, Muthalik told reporters at that time that the conduct and behaviour of young women going to pubs or bars was against Hindu culture and tradition.

 

Born in a Marathi family at Hukkeri in Belgaum district bordering Maharashtra, Muthalik joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1975 and was also associated for some time with the Bajrang Dal.

 

Earlier Report:

Hubli (Karnataka), Mar 23, 2014, (PTI): Controversial chief of right wing outfit Sri Ram Sena, Pramod Muthalik, who was linked with the attack on women at a pub in Mangalore in 2009, joined the BJP here today.

 

Muthalik was welcomed into the party in the presence of State party President Prahalad Joshi, former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and former Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa at a formal ceremony here.

 

He later told reporters that he joined BJP with the objective of ensuring that Narendra Modi becomes the country’s next Prime Minister.

 

Muthalik has had a love-hate relation with BJP, which was evident when the saffron party had accused him of misusing Modi’s name for raising funds.

 

He joined RSS in 1975 and Shiv Sena in 2005, but left the latter in 2006. This is the first time he is officially being associated with the party.

 

BJP and Sangh Parivar leaders feel Muthalik’s entry into the party can tilt the scales, especially in Belgaum, as people divided on the basis of mother tongues Kannada and Marathi will come together under the Hindutva plank.

 

BJP leaders also feel his entry will benefit the party in other parts of the district and neighbouring districts.

 

Muthalik shot into the limelight when Ram Sena workers allegedly attacked girls in a pub in Mangalore in 2009.

 

The hardcore Hindutva leader is facing several cases, including one relating to promoting enmity between two communities.