Known as the second headquarters of the Sangh Parivar after Nagpur, the coastal city of Mangalore has nourished several Hindutva fringe groups of which only two have come to prominence, namely the Bajrang Dal and the Sri Rama Sene.

But after the pub attack, the Sene has made a ‘grand entry’ and youth are joining it in hordes.

Many workers from ABVP, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Yuva Sene and other fringe groups are visiting the state conveners of the Sene, Prasad Attavar in Mangalore and Arun Kumar Puthila in Puttur, to impress them.

Sene chief Pramod Mutalik met former state convener of Bajrang Dal Mahedra Kumar in Koppa in Chikmagalur district on Monday and invited him to join the Sene.

Kumar was a pupil of Mutalik and together they were responsible for the growth of Bajrang Dal in Mangalore, Chikmagalur, Uduppi, Shimoga, Madikeri and Karwar.

In Kasargod, where left party fringe groups had always trounced the Sangh Parivar groups, it was Kumar and Mutalik who  created a formidable presence of the Sene.

“We got tremendous boost by way of the pro-Hindutva vote bank statement given by the swamiji of the Pejavar Math in Mangalore on Sunday,” Mutalik said.

“At a time when Hindus are being alienated by the so-called secular forces, Muslim fundamentalism and terrorism, Swamiji’s thoughts are in the right direction and we welcome his statements and will perhaps work towards creating a strong pro-Hindu force, if not a vote bank,” Mutalik added.

He called Mahendra a terrific swayamsevak and truly motivated by Hindutva causes. “He is unlike those pseudo Hindutvavadis who, at the drop of a hat, try to join the BJP. If I can have him in the Sene, there is nothing like it,” he said.

But Mahendra appeared to be in a pensive mood.

“It is true that I was let down by the Bajrang Dal after the attacks on churches in Mangalore, Udupi and Chikmagalur. The BJP leaders had not understood my commitment to Hindutva issues. Pramodji is a terrific leader, he is like a rock and cannot be moved by petty things like politics. After he left Bajrang Dal, many good leaders also left. But it is also hard to leave the Dal. I am at  crossroads now,” he said.

Attavar added that soon Sri Rama Sene will become a pan-India organisation. He said,

“The recruitment was in full swing and our next target was Bangalore where youngsters were being pulled into a mindless change of culture. We have already developed a strong group in that city. Soon, we will be in Mysore, Gulburga, Chitradurga, Davanagere and Bellary,” he said.

M Raghuram/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication