Pramod Muthalik
Encyclopedia
Pramod Muthalik (born 1963) is the chief of the Rashtriya Hindu Sena, the parent organization of the Sri Ram Sena
. He was born in 1963 to a Marathi
family in Hukkeri in the Belgaum
district of Karnataka
, close to the border with Maharashtra
.
After the 2009 Mangalore pub attack
, where women were beaten (because, according to the attackers, the women were indulging in anti-cultural acts), Pramod Muthalik said: Citing traditional values of India,
"Girls going to pubs is not acceptable." But the way they opted to protest was controversial. He also said, "you are highlighting this small incident to malign the BJP government in the state, keeping in mind a case where media and ministers kept mum against beating of Saba, a Pakistani girl, by group of Muslim women for tattooing holy koranic words on her back."
He asked why the media and government are silent for Bangladeshi illegal infiltrators and why more than 400 children are missing in city Delhi alone during 441 day period.
"If the Hindu girls are exploited by the members of other religions, double the number of girls from other religions will also be targeted,” he announced. He said this in light of the fact that missing of Hindu girls has become common in Mangalore. They are later found in Islamic seminaries in Kerala's Kozhikode which have been involved in the recruitment of women cadre for jihad, especially after 26/11.
Aged 13, he joined the RSS
in 1975. In 2004, he become the convenor for South India
for the Bajrang Dal
. During this time, he helped the BJP in the assembly polls, especially in north Karnataka which soon became the party’s stronghold.
Stating that he wanted a political platform to advance the objectives of Hindutva
, he joined the Shiv Sena
on August 28, 2005. He was accompanied by the former district president of the Bajrang Dal for Belgaum, Vilas Pawar, and some 5,000 workers belonging to the Bajrang Dal, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bharatiya Janata Party
. This marked the formation of the Shiv Sena in Karnataka.
Muthalik quit the Sena in 2006 after the party revived its demand for the merger of the Marathi speaking areas like Belgaum with Maharashtra. He then formed the Rashtriya Hindu Sena.
The cases are relating to making inflammatory speeches, inciting hatred between religious groups , conducting training with intent to carry out violence. Pramod Multhalik has over 45 cases pending against him, and is wanted by the police in 11 districts of Karnataka
. Most of these cases are still under investigation and relate to subversive activities, defiling religious books, unlawful assembly, violating prohibitory orders, and evading judicial warrants. Most were filed between the years 2000 and 2008. A look at the chargesheet
makes it clear that he has never been arrested for any of these cases.
On February 19, 2000, Muthalik spoke at Malebennur in Harihar taluk of Davanagere
district. He remarked at minority communities and questioned their loyalty to the nation. The Harihar police filed a case under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code
. Two years later, the district magistrate banned his entry into Malebennur and surrounding areas.
On January 10, 2002, he was banned from entering the Bailhongal
taluk in relation to communal incidents in Kittur
. The ban also included fellow Bajrang Dal
leaders Vilas Pawar and Manoj Hanagal.
On January 13, 2008, Muthalik spoke in Renukanagar in Davanagere city. He made remarks against Muslims. The police registered a case under section 295 and 295-A of the IPC.
On February 11, 2010, while going for a debate on Valentine's Day in an open air theatre in Ravindra Kalakshetra
, a group of youths blakened his face and dragged him.
In September 2008, in Davanagere, Muthalik launched the Rashtra Raksha Sene, which he said was a group of volunteers trained to fight Islamic terror groups. He has claimed that as many as 700 people were being trained to carry out suicide attacks. KTJ Nagar police filed cases against him.
Muthalik is an admirer of the Hindu radical Nathuram Godse
, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi
. He regularly attends an annual function in Pune to mark the death anniversary of Godse.
A Mangalore court has banned Muthalik for a year citing the Mangalore pub attack and Valentine's Day threat.
In a TV expose conducted by Aaj Tak
(TV Today Network
) and Tehelka telecast on 13 May 2010, Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik was caught on camera, demanding Rs 60 lakhs for staging a Mangalore pub-like riot in Bangalore in connivance with Prasad Attavar, Ram Sene's national Vice-president who is in prison and V.K. Bhavani, Bangalore chief of Ram Sene.
Sri Ram Sena
The Sri Ram Sena is a right-wing Hindu extremist group founded in the late 1960s by Kalki Ji Maharaj right hand Bal Thackeray, a former leader of the Shiv Sena, the Bajrang Dal and the Vishva Hindu Parishad. Kalki Ji Maharaj is a devotee of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna was born in Vrindavan U.P....
. He was born in 1963 to a Marathi
Marathi people
The Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...
family in Hukkeri in the Belgaum
Belgaum
Belgaum is a city and a municipal corporation in Belgaum district in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the fourth largest city of the state of Karnataka, the first three being Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad....
district of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, close to the border with Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
.
After the 2009 Mangalore pub attack
2009 Mangalore pub attack
On 24 January 2009, the Sri Ram Sena attacked girls in a pub in Mangalore, India. A group of 40 activists of the Sri Rama Sena barged into the pub "Amnesia — The Lounge" and beat up a group of young women and men, claiming the women were violating traditional Indian values. Two of the women...
, where women were beaten (because, according to the attackers, the women were indulging in anti-cultural acts), Pramod Muthalik said: Citing traditional values of India,
"Girls going to pubs is not acceptable." But the way they opted to protest was controversial. He also said, "you are highlighting this small incident to malign the BJP government in the state, keeping in mind a case where media and ministers kept mum against beating of Saba, a Pakistani girl, by group of Muslim women for tattooing holy koranic words on her back."
He asked why the media and government are silent for Bangladeshi illegal infiltrators and why more than 400 children are missing in city Delhi alone during 441 day period.
"If the Hindu girls are exploited by the members of other religions, double the number of girls from other religions will also be targeted,” he announced. He said this in light of the fact that missing of Hindu girls has become common in Mangalore. They are later found in Islamic seminaries in Kerala's Kozhikode which have been involved in the recruitment of women cadre for jihad, especially after 26/11.
Aged 13, he joined the RSS
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Patriotic Organization), also known the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist, paramilitary, volunteer, and allegedly militant organization for Hindu males in India...
in 1975. In 2004, he become the convenor for South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
for the Bajrang Dal
Bajrang Dal
The Bajrang Dal , a hardline and militant Hindu organization in India, is the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and is based on the ideology of Hindutva. Founded on 1 October 1984 in Uttar Pradesh, India, it has since spread throughout India...
. During this time, he helped the BJP in the assembly polls, especially in north Karnataka which soon became the party’s stronghold.
Stating that he wanted a political platform to advance the objectives of Hindutva
Hindutva
Hindutva is the term used to describe movements advocating Hindu nationalism. Members of the movement are called Hindutvavādis.In India, an umbrella organization called the Sangh Parivar champions the concept of Hindutva...
, he joined the Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena , is a political party in India founded on 19 June 1966 by Balasaheb Thackeray. It is currently headed by Thackeray's son, Uddhav Thackeray...
on August 28, 2005. He was accompanied by the former district president of the Bajrang Dal for Belgaum, Vilas Pawar, and some 5,000 workers belonging to the Bajrang Dal, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bharatiya Janata Party
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
. This marked the formation of the Shiv Sena in Karnataka.
Muthalik quit the Sena in 2006 after the party revived its demand for the merger of the Marathi speaking areas like Belgaum with Maharashtra. He then formed the Rashtriya Hindu Sena.
The cases are relating to making inflammatory speeches, inciting hatred between religious groups , conducting training with intent to carry out violence. Pramod Multhalik has over 45 cases pending against him, and is wanted by the police in 11 districts of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. Most of these cases are still under investigation and relate to subversive activities, defiling religious books, unlawful assembly, violating prohibitory orders, and evading judicial warrants. Most were filed between the years 2000 and 2008. A look at the chargesheet
Chargesheet
A Chargesheet is a formal document of accusation prepared by a law-enforcement agency in India. It is distinct from the First Information Report , usually refers to one or more FIRs, and charges an individual or organization for the crimes specified in those FIR...
makes it clear that he has never been arrested for any of these cases.
On February 19, 2000, Muthalik spoke at Malebennur in Harihar taluk of Davanagere
Davanagere
Davangere or Davanagere is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of Davangere district which lies at the centre of the state of Karnataka. The city is located on National Highway 4 at a distance of about 265 km from the state capital, Bangalore...
district. He remarked at minority communities and questioned their loyalty to the nation. The Harihar police filed a case under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code
Indian Penal Code
Indian Penal Code is the main criminal code of India. It is a comprehensive code, intended to cover all substantive aspects of criminal law. It was drafted in 1860 and came into force in colonial India during the British Raj in 1862...
. Two years later, the district magistrate banned his entry into Malebennur and surrounding areas.
On January 10, 2002, he was banned from entering the Bailhongal
Bailhongal
Bailhongal is a town in Belgaum district of Karnataka state in southern India. It is also the name of the surrounding taluka....
taluk in relation to communal incidents in Kittur
Kittur
Kitturu , also called Kittur is a village in Belgaum District of Karnataka state. It is part of the Bailahongal taluk in Belgaum district. It is a place of historical significance because of the resistance of Rani Chennamma of Kitturu to the British Raj.-History:On the outskirts of the town lies...
. The ban also included fellow Bajrang Dal
Bajrang Dal
The Bajrang Dal , a hardline and militant Hindu organization in India, is the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and is based on the ideology of Hindutva. Founded on 1 October 1984 in Uttar Pradesh, India, it has since spread throughout India...
leaders Vilas Pawar and Manoj Hanagal.
On January 13, 2008, Muthalik spoke in Renukanagar in Davanagere city. He made remarks against Muslims. The police registered a case under section 295 and 295-A of the IPC.
On February 11, 2010, while going for a debate on Valentine's Day in an open air theatre in Ravindra Kalakshetra
Ravindra Kalakshetra
Ravindra Kalakshetra is a cultural centre in Bangalore which provides a home for musical and theatrical performances. Located in heart of Bangalore city, it was built to commemorate the birth centenary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.-History:...
, a group of youths blakened his face and dragged him.
In September 2008, in Davanagere, Muthalik launched the Rashtra Raksha Sene, which he said was a group of volunteers trained to fight Islamic terror groups. He has claimed that as many as 700 people were being trained to carry out suicide attacks. KTJ Nagar police filed cases against him.
Muthalik is an admirer of the Hindu radical Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Godse
Nathuram Vinayak Godse , from the city of Pune, India was a Hindutva activist and journalist, who was the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi. Along with his brother Gopal Godse and six other co-conspirators, he executed a plot to assassinate Gandhi.-Early life:Nathuram Godse was born in Baramati, Pune...
, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
. He regularly attends an annual function in Pune to mark the death anniversary of Godse.
A Mangalore court has banned Muthalik for a year citing the Mangalore pub attack and Valentine's Day threat.
In a TV expose conducted by Aaj Tak
Aaj Tak
Aaj Tak is a 24-hour Hindi news television channel owned by TV Today Network Ltd. Aaj Tak loosely translates as "Till Today" or "Up to the Minute". Watched by some 45 million viewers in India’s cable and satellite universe, Aaj Tak is one of India’s largest privately owned news channels...
(TV Today Network
TV Today Network
The TV Today Network is one of India's leading English-Hindi news television networks along with Network 18 and NDTV. It is listed on the BSE and the NSE and consists of the following news channels:...
) and Tehelka telecast on 13 May 2010, Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik was caught on camera, demanding Rs 60 lakhs for staging a Mangalore pub-like riot in Bangalore in connivance with Prasad Attavar, Ram Sene's national Vice-president who is in prison and V.K. Bhavani, Bangalore chief of Ram Sene.