Mangalore Chalo: Sea of saffron as BJP takes Congress head on

Mangalore turned into a fortress as the BJP began its big Mangaluru Chalo or Bike Rally today. As police tried to stop the leaders, they retorted, " listen to us, we are forming the government next year, not the Congress."

State BJP president Yeddyurappa, Shobha Karandlaje, local MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Jagadish Shettar, Eshwarappa, R Ashok, Pratap Simha, Aravind Limbavali, district BJP president Sanjeeva Matandur, C T Ravi and many MLAs and MLCs are at the venue. Police have put barricades towards Hampanakatta to stop people from marching in groups.

The police are preventing the leaders from marching towards the Nehru maidan as there is no permission for the rally. There are more than 1,000 police personnel at the Jyothi Circle and the Rapid Action Force too has been called in. The situation is being monitored by Commissioner of Police, T R Suresh.

Pratap Simha in his speech said, "Coastal region is known for peace. It is the soil of Rani Abbakka. But now Ramanath Rai is turning this region into a war field. He is favouring the terrorist elements. He is against the Hindu community. He is the main person responsible for peace disturbances in Mangaluru. Our fight continues until a ban is enforced on PFI, SDPI and KFD," he also said.

Shobha Karandlaje addressing the people said, "Ignoring the government's threat, our members have gathered here in large numbers. It shows who we are."

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "Siddaramaiah's government is afraid of us. So they tried to interrupt the rally. Several Hindu activists have been murdered but Siddaramaiah is defending the PFI and SDPI who are involved in the murders."

OneIndia News