JOIN USThough the ‘Mangaluru Chalo’ bike rally of BJP Yuva Morcha failed to reach Mangaluru on Thursday as planned, a large number of BJP activists holding party flags gathered at Ambedkar Circle in the City for more than three hours as part of their protest and shouted slogans against the State government.
Later, they made an attempt to lay siege to the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
The protesters demanded a ban on PFI and KFD outfits for the alleged killing of Hindutva activists and resignation of district in-chrage minister B Ramanath Rai. They also demanded that the government refer all cases of murder of Hindutva activists and RSS functionaries to the CBI. The BJP had erected a stage using a lorry at the Circle, where BJP leaders addressed the gathering.
Police took into custody BJP State President B S Yeddyurappa and State President of BJP Yuva Morcha Prathap Simha after their address when they attempted to march towards DC’s office. Other leaders, including former chief minister Jagadeesh Shettar, former deputy chief ministers R Ashoka and K S Eshwarappa, BJP former president Pralhad Joshi, party general secretary Aravinda Limbavali, MPs Shoba Karandlaje and Nalin Kumar Kateel were also arrested.
According to DCP Law and order Hanumantharaya, “a total of 850 people were detained and later released during the BJP Yuva Morcha rally.”
Violating the prohibitory order in force, the workers took out a padayatra after Yeddyurappa gave a call to march to the office of Deputy Commissioner to lay siege to the office. A large posse of policemen present at the spot, took the workers into custody.
A brief argument erupted between the BJP workers and the police after the protest meet at Ambedkar Circle. Though the bike rally was prohibited, a handful of bikers managed to sneak in and join the procession.
The protesters at Ambedkar Circle breached the barricade and walked towards DC’s office via Hampankatte. Inspite of police efforts to prevent them, the protesters marched ahead. When they neared the Deputy Commissioner’s office in State Bank area, the police took all the activists into custody.
The Dakshina Kannada district administration and the City Police Commissioner had clamped prohibitory orders under Section 35 of Karnataka Police Act in Dakshina Kannada and Mangaluru Police Commissionerate till midnight of September 8, to prevent any untoward incidents. The Police Commissioner had allowed BJP to hold a public meeting at Nehru Maidan between 11 am and 2 pm. However, they chose to hold the public meeting at Ambedkar Circle.
Addressing the protesters, BJP leaders accused the Congress-led State government of failure in arresting those who murdered Hindutva activists in the last four-and-a-half years.
Yeddyurappa said Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister should resign as he had failed to control law and order in the district.