Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jan 12: Scores of BJP leaders and right-wing outfits on Friday January 12 gheraoed the district Congress office at Mallikatta in protest against chief minister Siddaramaiah's statement terming BJP and RSS leaders as 'terrorists'.
The protest was held in the wake of home minister Ramalinga Reddy's visit to the city. Reddy too justified the CM's statement while speaking to reporters in the city.
The protestors shouted slogans condemning the CM's remark and demanding apology.
Addressing the protest, Monappa Bhandary said, "Congress Karnataka in-charge K C Venugopal had said that the state government will not ban PFI and KFD. If Venugopal an agent of PFI?
"District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai has been engaging in goondaism with superintendent of police in front of goons, but no action has been taken. Siddaramaiah calls BJP and Sangh Parivar as 'terrorists', but what about organizations like PFI and KFD?
"Some Muslims are brainwashing girls as part of the love Jihad agenda and making them join ISIS, but the state government has chosen to remain silent on it," he alleged.
The Barke and Bunder police who had beefed up security at the spot in anticipation of the protest arrested the BJP and right-wing leaders.
As many as 86 BJP and right-wing activists were arrested under Section 71 of Karnataka Police Act and released later.
Among those arrested were Capt Brijesh Chowta, Vedavyas Kamath, Monappa Bhandary, Ganesh Hosabettu, Roopa D Bangera, Yogish Bhat, Santosh Kumar, Satyajit Suratkal and others.