Mangaluru, Sep 7: Even as millions of Kannadigas are in shock over the killing of journalist and anti-Hindutva activist Gauri Lankesh, hundreds of saffron activists from across Karnataka have gathered in this coastal city for a political cause.
Even though the police had granted permission to hold protest meet at Nehru Maidan as part of BJP’s Mangaluru Chalo only for three hours (between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.), hundreds of saffron activists and their leaders began to gather at Dr B R Ambedkar Circle (Jyothi Circle) in the heart of the city at around 10 a.m. causing inconvenience to vehicular movement.
Former chief ministers B S Yeddyurappa and Jagadish Shettar, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje and Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Mysuru MP Pratap Simha are leading the agitation aimed at building public opinion against the Siddaramaiah led government ahead of next year’s Assembly polls.
The BJP leaders also addressed the protesters at the venue. Ironically, Shobha Karandlaje held Siddaramaiah government responsible for the murder of Gauri Lankesh. It is worth mentioning here that Gauri was a trenchant critic of BJP leaders including Karndlaje and supporters of Siddaramaiah. Gauri had also received hundreds of death threats from hardline Hindutva activists.
Tight security
On the other hand Police are on high alert to avoid any untoward incident. Security has been strengthened in Mangaluru city.
One company of Rapid Action Force (RAF), 10 platoons of KSRP and five platoons of CAR have been deployed in addition to 100 additional police personnel from outside the district. To instill confidence in the public, the RAF, CAR and police personnel took out a route march across Mangaluru city yesterday.
Dakshina Kannada SP C H Sudheer Kumar Reddy said 15 platoons of KSRP and over 600 additional police personnel were deployed in the district. Checkposts have been opened on the district’s borders.
Also Read: Mangaluru Chalo: Cops scuttle bike rally as BJP defies ban
Comments
Add new comment