Mangalore: Congress protest against Kalladka Bhat turns ugly as party workers fight
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Updated
Mangalore, Jan 13: A protest by Gurpur block Congress on Sunday January 12 demanding arrest of RSS leader Dr Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for his recent provocative speech turned chaotic after party members fought among themselves and almost resorted to blows.
It is said that former union minister and Congress leader Janardhan Poojary was addressing the protest, but instead of speaking on the issue Kalladka Bhat, he spoke on Aadhaar card and ration card, saying that Aadhar card was not required to get gas connection, and that he has spoken to the CM and to the DC about it.
He then got on to speak about houses for the shelterless poor, when some party workers in the gathering called out that the protest was against Kalladka Bhat and he should speak to the point. At this, Poojary replied that it was he who raised voice and demanded Bhat's arrest first, but it was not in his culture to speak like Bhat had done at Hindu Sangama.
But the party workers insisted that he speak only on Kalladka Bhat. Some of the party members reportedly asked him why K P Bhat was not arrested though Congress was in power.
They also shouted slogans against Poojary and asked why he could not get K P Bhat arrested instead of only talking in public. Some of the party members climbed the dais where Poojary was delivering his speech, which angered his supporters.
Soon, the party members got divided into two groups and heated exchange of words threatened to snowball into a full-fledged brawl.
Angered by the development, Poojary lashed out at the people who opposed him and said, "You are not Congress workers. You are from the SDPI." However, a Congress leader clarified to the media that only Congress party workers were present.
Though police security was deployed at the spot, the situation worsened and police had to resort to mild lathi charge, sources said.
MLA Mohiuddin Bava, Ivan D'Souza and others were present at the protest.