Police-BJP workers clash across Karnataka over 'Mangaluru Chalo', party's poll agenda

The BJP decided on the bike rally after Amit Shah's visit to Bengaluru in August.

Massive showdown was witnessed between BJP workers and policemen in various parts of Karnataka on Tuesday with the party attempting to go ahead with its 'Mangaluru Chalo' rally despite prohibitory orders. In Hubballi alone, 300 party workers including leaders like Jagadish Shettar were taken into preventive custody.

Workers and police clashed at Bengaluru's Freedom Park on Tuesday morning as BJP defied prohibitory orders to flag off its 'Mangaluru chalo' bike rally. Dozens of BJP workers were detained and bikes that were to take part in the rally were seized by the police who exercised restraint even as BJP leaders intimidated them. The massive bike rally that was to begin from Bengaluru's Freedom Park and conclude in Mangaluru on Thursday was denied permission by the police. District police in other parts of Karnataka too denied permission for the rally in view of law and order.

Despite prohibitory orders, BJP called for the rally to begin as scheduled across the state. Massive police deployment was in place at various parts of Bengaluru to stop BJP workers from gathering at Freedom Park in the heart of the city. In Bengaluru alone, 600 policemen, one company of Rapid Action Force was deployed to stop protestors from going ahead with the rally. BJP workers were detained at Town Hall, Anekal, Hosur Road even before they could reach Freedom Park.

At the venue in Bengaluru, hundreds of BJP workers continued to pour in riding two-wheelers despite the police blocking roads and restricting traffic. Senior leaders of the BJP Shobha Karandlaje, Pratap Simha, R Ashok, Arvind Limbavali, V Somanna, Suresh Kumar were present in Bengaluru while leaders like Jagadish Shettar, Prahlad Joshi led the protest in Hubballi. Leaders like Pratap Simha and Ashok launched attacks against the police for refusing permission for the rally.

"Congress is anti-Hindu," allege BJP leaders

"Mysuru was once all about Wadiyars but today is filled with the kin of Tipu Sultan. Siddaramaiah is not just inaugurating Indira canteens but is bent upon acting like Indira Gandhi during the emergency," BJP MP and Yuva Morcha chief Pratap Simha said adding that Hindus, especially RSS and BJP workers were being mercilessly killed in Karnataka. "By letting PFI activists go Scott-free the Congress government in Karnataka is giving them a free hand to kill our workers. Investigative authorities like the NIA have named PFI activists in RSS workers murder case," he added reiterating that the rally will go as planned irrespective of prohibition.

Former Home Minister R Ashok threatened the policemen deployed at Freedom Park against arresting any BJP worker. "Beware, if you arrest someone without a warrant. You are shamelessly denying us permission to protest but threaten to arrest us," he said. BJP leaders accused the Congress in Karnataka of being 'anti-Hindu', building its poll narrative.

Dozens of leaders were detained, shoved into buses and taken away from the protest site but not without the ruckus. Barricades were pulled down by protestors who later also blocked the road creating traffic snarls. The BJP reiterated that despite the government's attempts to stop the rally, they will congregate in Mangaluru on Thursday for a show of strength.

Despite the growing chorus against police, restraint was exercised with no untoward incidents. The police noted the registration numbers of bikes that were ready to be part of the rally and later seized some of the bikes. In an immense show of restraint, the Bengaluru police successfully thwarted the BJP's 'Mangaluru Chalo' rally with no violence or force but sheer planning and effective people management.

OneIndia News