Karnataka government denies permission for ‘Mangaluru Chalo’, BJP - Hanumantharaya, DCP,

by Lisa Haydon Hanumantharaya dcp

The Congress government in Karnataka, through the Mangaluru 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 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 all check points into the city to stop anyone from entering. We will shield the city and will set up multiple checkpoints within city limits,’ 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 aprt from demanding a ban on organisatons 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 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 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. We will continue our fight and go ahead with the rally as planned,’ said BJP leader R Ashok.