The small coastal town of Kanhangad of Kerala, once famed for its rich cultural heritage, is now ruled by the majority of Muslims. The shops owned predominantly by Konkanis in the town, is now owned by Muslims who managed to become millionaires during the last few decades with the flow of money from the gulf. The streets, once full of the fragrance of incense sticks is now full of the foul smell of burning flesh. This is also a town that connects Kerala to Coorg, popularly known as the Scotland of India.
The journey from Kanhangad town to Coorg through the lush green is memorable for travellers. From the border, the famed temple of Lord Shiva in Bhagamandala is quite near where the holy confluence of Kaveri River, Kannike River and the mythical Sujyoti River attracts thousands of Hindus across the country. Many pilgrims perform various religious activities for their ancestors here at the Sangam and then proceed to Talakaveri which is said to be the origin of River Kaveri. Madikeri is the capital of Coorg is at a distance of 36 kilometres from here.
The shocking fact is the locality is slowly being acquired by Muslims from Kerala, especially from the north Malabar region which is already on the radar of NIA and other national agencies. Coorg is rich and provides all that is necessary for the Kodavas (Kodava, anglicised as Coorgs), which are considered a patrilineal Ethno-lingual tribe from the region of Kodagu, who natively speak the Kodava language. However, amidst the riches gives by the nature, currency fascinates them that leads the majority of them to fall victim to high rates offered by Muslims from the north Malabar region.
Soon after a person from the Muslim community acquires the land, like everywhere else, what happens next is that his kith and kins starts acquiring nearby lands too. This is the strategy followed by Muslims that finally converts the entire land to a Muslim majority region. The statistics would be shocking where Madikeri, the capital city is overpolluted by Muslims. The danger is that this act as a gateway for Islamic radicalism towards the entire Karnataka. This is a slow process, like that of cancer, it shows its symptoms only when the larger area is affected.
Kerala’s Wayanadu, which shares the same geographical features, is now dominated by Muslims where the building activities have endangered the very geography of the land. While searching for a safe constituency for contesting in the Loksabha Elections, the congress former chief Rahul Gandhi had no other options other than Wayanadu where the leadership was sure that the majority of the Muslim population will elect him. Coorg, unfortunately, is on the way to becoming another Wayanadu that will provide fertile soil for Ismalic fundamentalists to grow, however that will endanger the entire Karnataka and probably the country too.
Having an eye on the Coorg is vital not just for the state, but for the entire nation. The land acquisition in the region has to be closely monitored and exploiting the land by the greedy Muslim businessmen who would do anything for establishing their personal and community’s interests has to be stopped. While the urbanisation in the region would risk the climate of the entire nation, Islamic fundamentalism spread by them would risk the life of people across the country. Like Kerala becoming the terrorist capital of India, let us not convert Coorg as the terrorist capital of Karnataka. It is easy to treat a disease at its very outset, the delay would make it deadly and often incurable.
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