Karnataka government denies permission for 'Mangaluru Chalo', BJP decides to defy order

The Congress government in Karnataka, through the Mangaluru and Bengaluru police, has refused to grant permission to BJP's ambitious 'Chalo Mangaluru rally'. The BJP has, however, decided to defy the order and go ahead with the protest rally as planned.

The Mangaluru police have refused to allow protestors into the district citing law and order issues while the Bengaluru police have refused to grant permission for the flag off event from Bengaluru. The Bengaluru police have denied permission for a bike rally that was scheduled to be flagged off from Freedom Park on Tuesday.

"The organizers were asked to provide details about the rally but we have not received the same so far. About 1,000 bikes are expected to be part of the rally and there are possibilities of anti-social elements mingling with the protestors and causing law and order problems. Moreover, 1,000 bikes at a time will create a 2-km long line and may take three to four hours to exit the city, causing traffic snarls. The bike rally is headed towards Mangaluru but no permission seems to have been given by the Mangaluru police as well. Hence, permission for the rally is denied," read excerpts from Suneel Kumar's order.

The youth wing of the BJP had scheduled to take out a rally between September 5 and 7 to protest against killings of RSS and BJP workers in the state. The rallies from Bengaluru, Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, and Hubballi were to conclude at Mangaluru in a massive congregation of BJP leaders and youth wing workers. Permission for the same has been denied with the Mangaluru police deciding to cordon district borders.

"We have denied permission for Mangaluru Chalo rally but there has been no decision on a gathering. We will block protesters at all check points into the city. We will set up multiple checkpoints within city limits to prevent rallies," said Hanumantharaya, DCP, Law and Order, Mangaluru city.

BJP's 'Mangaluru Chalo' rally is aimed at highlighting attacks on RSS and BJP workers in the state apart from demanding a ban on organisations like the PFI, KFD and SDPI. On Sunday, BJP MP Pratap Simha who is also the head of BJP youth wing had alleged that the police were sending out notices to lodges along the route of the rally not to provide rooms for BJP workers.

BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar, K S Eshwarappa on Monday met the new Home Minister of Karnataka Ramalinga Reddy seeking permission for the rally. The minister, however, expressed concerns over traffic snarls and route plan and told reporters that there was no intelligence on possibilities of untoward incidents. "We have sought clarifications. If the same is provided then permission will be given. A lot of bikers will head towards Mangaluru from different districts and that may cause traffic hassles. Our concern is traffic and not communal issues. We do not want any untoward incidents to take place and we do not have any intelligence reports on possible untoward incidents as of yet," said Karnataka's new Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy.

Despite no permission, the BJP has decided to go ahead with the rally as it planned. "The Karnataka government led by Siddaramaiah is behaving like a Hitler. RSS and BJP leaders are being attacked in the state and attempts are being made to stop protests. We will continue our fight and go ahead with the rally as planned," said BJP leader R Ashok.

The rally comes in the aftermath of Amit Shah's visit to Bengaluru during which he is said to have pulled up different wings of the BJP for failing to capitalise on issues leading up to the Karnataka assembly elections in 2018.

OneIndia News