Return to 2009? Warning against opening pubs for women in Mangaluru

Mangaluru: Bringing back memories of  an ugly phase during BJP rule from 2008-13 when pubs and live bands in Mangaluru were the hot target of unruly right-wing mobs, some saffron outfits on Tuesday came up with a fresh warning to women bars and live bands in the city. The right-wing outfits feel such bars and live bands could lead to a recurrence of incidents which happened in the past like the Amnesia pub attack. 

At a press meet in Mangaluru, VHP district president Jagadish Shenava asked the district administration and city police to check the springing up of 'ladies bars' and live bands. "Some ladies bars and live bands are already operating in the city, a few more are likely to open. The VHP, Bajrang Dal and our women's wing are opposed to this. These activities will affect society at large and so women have approached us with a request to ask the district administration to stop these live bands," Shenava said.

"Live bands and ladies bars are breeding grounds for illegal activity. Though the owners claim they are running them legally, there are many instances where illegal acts take place. Girls who are made to dance and sing, are later used for such (sic) activities. The administration should not give permission to new ladies bars and live bands and should immediately close those which are already open," he demanded and warned that the VHP, Bajrang Dal along with their women's wing, would start a movement if the district administration did not control live bands. Shenava denied the charge that saffron outfits were involved in 'hafta' collection and said he would dissolve the organisation if this charge was proved.