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K'taka, Rajasthan CMs against 'pub culture'
The political debate on pub and mall culture now in the spotlight after the assault at a Mangalore bar intensified with BJP-ruled Karnataka saying it will not allow pub culture to grow while two states ruled by Cong had divergent views.
The political debate on pub and mall culture now in the spotlight after the assault at a Mangalore bar intensified on Thursday with BJP-ruled Karnataka saying it will not allow pub culture to grow while two states ruled by Congress had divergent views.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who has been accused of bowing to RSS pressure, said, "we won't allow this pub culture in Karnataka to grow. But on the other hand, those who take law in their hand will be dealt with very firmly."
He also dithered on the issue of banning right-wing group Sri Rama Sene whose activists have been arrested for last Saturday's pub incident in Mangalore in which girls and boys were thrashed. "We will discuss it with the police officers and I will discuss it with the cabinet."
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who has accused the erswtwhile Vasundhara Raje BJP government of bringing in "liquor culture", said in Jaipur the move to end pub culture in the State had nothing to do with the Mangalore incident.
However, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit saw nothing wrong in boys and girls going out together to malls when asked to comment on Gehlot voicing reservations in this regard.
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said he is against all "uncivilised behaviour."
Gehlot said, "my feelings have nothing to do with the Mangalore episode. My feelings are my own and in the interest of Rajasthan and its culture".
He had drawn flak for his comments that he wanted to end the culture of boys and girls roaming around in malls holding hands.
Condemning the pub attack on women, Dikshit felt the youths frequent such places with the knowledge of their parents and are mature enough to handle themselves.
