Magaluru Chalo Bike Rally, BJP workers gather at Jyothi Circle, arrested
Mangalauru: Keeping the law and order situation in mind the Police commissioner T R Suresh denied permission to hold the Mangaluru Chalo Bike Rally organized by the BJP Yuva Morcha on September 7.
Addressing the protesters MP Nalin Kumar said, “The Congress government is afraid now because in the next elections BJP will come to power and B S Yeddyurappa will become the Chief Minister. In fear, the Congress government is trying to stop us from holding the bike rally. Many Hindu leaders have been murdered but the Congress government did not take any action. Ramanath Rai is the main cause for communal violence in the district. He is not fit to be a minister, he should resign”.
Addressing the protesters Shobha Karandlaje said, “Today the party workers did not heed to the threats of the state government and have gathered here in large numbers. CM Siddaramaiah has imposed an undeclared emergency in the state. We are protesting to demand a ban on the SDPI, PFI and KFD organizations which are involved in anti-social activities. Today we have organized the Bike rally but our vehicles have been seized in other districts, protesters on the bike from Udupi and Kundapur have also been stopped from taking part in the rally. Siddaramaiah government will end in four months and we will come to power in the next elections. If Siddaramaiah cannot ban PFI, KFD and SDPI we will ban them once we come to power in Karnataka.”
The BJP leaders tried their best to get the permission to hold the Bike rally. BJP leaders were arrested in Hubballi, Shivamogga, Kundapur and other places. On September 5, the police seized 4188 bikes, arrested several BJP workers who were on their way to the Mangluru Chalo bike rally. BJP leaders challenging the administration said that they will hold the Mangluru Chalo bike rally and Padayatra on September 7 at 11 am from Jyothi circle to DC office.
As a precautionary measure liquor sale was banned for 12 hours from September 7 at 6:00 am till evening 6:00 pm. Karnataka Police Act 35 has been in place to avoid rallies, jathas, or procession of vehicles. Permission to hold the public meeting at the Nehru Maidan has been granted for three hours. In spite of restrictions, the BJP workers gathered at the Jyothi circle for the padayatra and bike rally.
The protesters shouted slogans against congress government led by Siddaramaah
District President of BJP Yuva Morcha Harish Punja welcomed the gathering
There was a commotion between the protesters and the police. The police stopped the bike riders from taking part in the rally and seized the bikes. BJP leader R Ashok tried to ride his two-wheeler but was stopped by the police officers at the Jyothi circle and the two-wheeler was seized.
Addressing the protesters Jagadish Shettar said, “In the forthcoming elections BJP will win with a majority in Karnataka and B S Yeddyurappa will be the next CM. In DySP Ganapathi case, the CM is defending K J George because he is the ATM of the Congress party. Senior Journalist Gauri Lankesh was murdered and the case has been handed over to SIT instead of handing it over to the CID. In M M Kalburgi murder case the accused are not yet arrested”.
Some party workers were injured during the chaos near DC office and Hampankatta Junction. The BJP protesters brought the city to a standstill for a couple of hours, students were seen walking to schools and colleges.
Later speaking to the mediapersons R Ashok said, “We were holding a peaceful rally but the police have seized the vehicle and are not allowing us to hold the padayatra. We are holding the rally to demand a ban on PFI and SDPI organizations and also to sack Minister Ramanath Rai from the cabinet.
A protester collapsed during the Padayatra near Hampankatta Circle and was rushed to the hospital by the police. Several leaders including Yeddyurappa, Shobha Karandlaje, R Ashok, Jagadish Shettar, Arvind Limbavali, MP Nalin, Krishna J Palemar and Harish Punja were arrested by the police.
At Statebank the protesters pelted stones on the police and broke glasses on the road. One of the police was assaulted by a protester when he was trying to take him into custody.
Former CM and BJP state president Yeddyurappa said, “The police department is fed-up with the Congress government and have supported us to hold the rally peacefully. Some BJP workers have been injured during the protest. I will personally meet them in the hospital.”
The police department, the Rapid Action Force, Karnataka State Reserve Police and the City Armed forces tried their best to stop the protesters from holding the padayatra but the protesters did not heed to the police department and marched in a procession to the DC office where they were stopped and arrested.
Everybody stay safe including media people. I am truly hoping that all sides behave in a calm manner without any incidents.