KARNATAKA-wide 2500 kilometre human chain on January 30, 2018 is the clarion call given by the historic  state-level convention on ‘Karnataka for Harmony’ held in Bangalore on September 5, for protecting communal harmony in the state and to confront communal forces out to destroy the harmony. The three human chains from Basavakalyana (birth place of Basavanna) in north-east to Malemahadesvara Hills (place of famed tribal hero) in Chamarajanagar of south-east, from Belagaum in West to Challakere in East and Coastal Karawar to Madikeri – will cover about 2500 kilometres.  The human chain will take place on January 30, 2018 “Martyrs day” – the day Mahatma Gandhi was killed. The convention organised at the initiative of CPI(M) and Left parties along with Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), Hasiru Sene – farmers organisations, Dalit Organisations Co-ordination Committee was attended by over thousand people.

       Inaugurating the convention, Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) general secretary called for saving the idea of India as we know it from dark forces of obscurantism and communalism, so that we can change it for better. The dark forces apart from trying to destroy the secular democratic republic of India and the constitution that embodies its spirit, are set to change the country for the worse. This is a continuation of conflict between three streams that emerged in the freedom struggle in the 1920s. The only stream that was opposed to idea of secular democratic republic of India is in power at the centre today.

Earlier G V Sriram Reddy welcomed and explained the purpose of the convention. He pointed out that RSS which was playing politics by secretly controlling BJP, is now out in open. He cited the recent statement of Prakash Javdekar who openly stated that the BJP leaders have to take instructions from RSS on every issue/move. He also exposed the game-plan of the BJP-RSS combine of creating communal tension in the garb of “Mangalore Chalo” and the inability of the Congress to foil their designs administratively and politically.  

Sudhakar Reddy, CPI general secretary, religious leaders Nidumamidi Swamiji, Amir Khan Khadri, Father Manohara Chandra Prasad, K S Puttannayya of KRRS, writers/intellectuals Dr K Marulasiddappa, Dr G Ramakrishna, Prof Chandrashekhar Patil, Prof S G Siddaramayya, Prof G K Govinda Rao, Dr K Sharrifa, film actor Chetan, Left leaders Dr Radhakrishna (SUCI-C), Bharadwaj (CPI-ML-L)  addressed the convention.

It is ironic that the same evening these dark forces killed journalist-activist and crusader against Hindutva, Gauri Lankesh, bringing out the clear need for such a united action.