Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (MS)
Kundapur, Nov 13: Parivarthan Yatra by BJP attracted huge crowd here amid clashes, lathi charge and chaos.
Local independent MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty participated in the rally. When his name was announced his supporters shouted slogans. Some people, who are against his induction into the party, also shouted slogans denouncing him. When the two parties engaged in arguments and clashed, police had to intervene and they resorted to mild lathi charge.
"Congress government, which does not have any clue about the culture of this state, has celebrated 'Tipu Jayanti' even though the same had vehement opposition. They are going to celebrate the birthdays of traitors like Kasab. There is an immediate need for government that respects the feelings and self-respect of the people of the state. BJP government is required in the state for the efficient implementation of the grant given by the central government," said Ananthkumar Hegde, minister of state for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship at 'Navakarnataka Parivartana Yatra' organized at Nehru Maidan here on Monday, November 13.
"By voting out Congress government, BJP has to come to power under the leadership of B S Yeddyurappa. Central government projects are not being implemented. Though the water is flowing properly from the tank, the pipe of the tank itself is not proper," he added.
Inaugurating the conference B S Yeddyurappa, former chief minister and state president of the BJP, said, "This yatra will cover all the 224 constituencies of the state with the aim of building Congress-free state and dethroning the government led by Siddaramiah. We will declare our pro-people programmes on January 28, on which day this yatra will get over after roaming for 78 days in the state. I am not conducting this yatra to become the chief minister. My vision is to change Karnataka to a model state. The present government is not responding to the issues faced by the people. The condition of the government hospitals is pathetic. Private doctors are agitating,"
"The govenment is misusing the anti-corruption bureau, which was formed after the closure of Lokayukta. We cannot sit idle watching the developments in the undivided district of Dakshina Kannada. We will not allow our districts to become Malappuram and Kannur of Kerala state. We condemn the atrocities committed by the communists in Kerala state. There is allegation of rape on K C Venugopal, state-in-charge of Congress party. There is serious allegation on minister George also. Ministers who have to be dismissed are being protected by the government. State-in-charge of the Congress party is a rapist and chief minister is corrupt. It seeems that only two ministers have taken part in the Belgavi session. What has happened to the Siddaramaiah government? There is a deliberate attempt to withhold schemes like 'Bhagyalakshmi' and 'Sandhya Suraksha'. On the whole the present state government is against the people and the purpose of our yatra is to vote them out." he added.
"BJP party is known for discipline. A party that is built by people like Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. The government of Modi is being praised at international level for its farsightedness. BJP government has to come to power in Karnataka state also. If the same party is in power in state and centre, then the progress of the state will be faster," said D V Sadananda Gowda, union minister.
Shobha Karandlaje, member of parliament, Sriramulu, Jayaprakash Hegde, former member of parliament, Kota Sreenivas Poojary, member of legislative council, Dinakar Babu, president, zilla panchayat, Sheela Shetty, vice-president, Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, district BJP president, Tingale Vikramarjuna Hegde, state BJP secretary were present on the occasion.
Suresh Shetty Kadoor, president Kundapur zone, welcomed the gathering.
Slogans raised and banners displayed against Halady Srinivas Shetty - meeting turns violent
Several people were raising slogans favoring Halady Srinivas Shetty in the meeting. However, there were people who were against him also is sizable numbers. As B S Yeddyurappa started inaugurating the conference, banners against Halady Srinivas Shetty were displayed and also slogans were raised against him. A group of around 50 people started the commotion saying that 'we do not want the independent legislator who is stamping BJP'. At this juncture, the group that was supporting Halady Srinivas Shetty got into a scuffle with the against party. Senior police officers, police and prominent people of the party like Kiran Kodgi had a tough time in bringing the situation under control.
The heat on the ground reached the dais also. People did not heed the requests of the leaders of BJP, who were present on the stage, to remain calm. At the end, B S Yeddyurappa, told the gathering in strict terms that BJP is known for discipline. Those who do not abide by the ideology of the party may leave the arena. He also told that Halady Srinivas Shetty is going to join BJP in the month of January. There is no doubt in this matter. Creating issue without any reason is not right. Suresh Shetty also requested the people not to make any commotion.
Whenever the speakers mentioned the name of Halady Srinivas Shetty in their speech, slogans favouring the legislator were being raised by his supporters. Even during the introductory speech, when the speaker asked the gathering the name of the person who is behind the massive support in the show, the supporters of Halady chanted his name.
There were several supporters of Halady Srinivas Shetty, who wore his laminated photographs around their necks. Halady Srinivas Shetty watched the whole programme sitting in the first row. He also offered a floral welcome to B S Yeddyurappa when he was entering the ground.
People attended the conference in huge numbers in spite of the heat of afternoon Sun. As the programme came to an end there was a furious argument between the two groups and police had to resort to mild lathi charge in order to bring the unruly crowd under control.