What message does Kiran Bedi’s presence at Kalladka Bhat’s school send?

Mangaluru: Progressive thinkers and activists, who have raised serious objection to the re-enactment of the Babri Masjid demolition by children of the Sri Rama Vidya Kendra in Kalladka, have also questioned the presence of police officials and prominent individuals at the event organised by the school headed by RSS leader, Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat.

Children of the kendra had on Sunday dramatised the Ayodhya dispute, including  the demolition of the Babri Masjid during its annual sports day celebration. The Bantwal police registered an FIR against four members of the school management, including Mr Prabhakar Bhat after  serious objections were raised to the performance in a complaint filed against the institution.

While Mr Bhat has defended the school performance saying the children were only enacting the major developments of the year, progressive thinkers and others beg to differ.

“Demolition of a mosque and the celebration that followed was enacted by children. What kind of impact will this have on their minds ? Won't they feel that it's alright to bring down a mosque? The Supreme Court had in its order on the dispute noted that the demolition of the mosque was wrong and yet it is being justified," said Komu Sauhardha Vedike district president, Suresh Bhat Bakrabail.

He recalled that the court had given a media advisory in its verdict asking it not to air the demolition clipping on television and senior VHP leader, Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math, too had asked the people not to celebrate the verdict in a way that could hurt the sentiment of others. "But the Kalladka school went against  all of this," he regretted.

Also questioning  the presence of  prominent individuals at the event, he pointed out that it was attended by Puducherry Lt Governor, Kiran Bedi, Union and state ministers and senior police officials. "What message does their presence in Prabhakar Bhat's school send to  society at large ?” he asked.