Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Jan 13: District Bharathiya Janata Party (BJP) unit members staged 'Jail Bharo' agitation on Saturday, January 13 near Brahmagiri Circle protesting against chief minister Siddaramaiah for calling RSS and Bajrang Dal members as terrorists.
Addressing the protestors, district BJP president Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde said, “CM Siddaramaiah insulted Hindu organisations even after knowing the power of Hindus and Hindutva. Congress is supporting Muslim organisations. Several Hindu youths have been killed brutally. Why did he ask youth not to join RSS and BJP?”
“We should not support the Congress government. We are ashamed to call CM Siddaramaiah, a Hindu. He has insulted our religion. He is doing that for political gain. He is following the policy of divide and rule. This is our last warning to him. He should learn patriotism from BJP,” he said.
Condemning the Congress’ statement on BJP members’ non-involvement in India’s struggle for freedom, Mattaru said, “Senior BJP leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani participated in the freedom struggle. The CM should stop criticizing Hindus,”
MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary said, “Rashtriya Seva Sangh (RSS) was found in 1924 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. RSS activists are nation builders.
“Mahatma Gandhi himself stated ‘My dream will be realised only through RSS’. Nehru also provided stage for march fast for RSS workers though he was Congress leader. Congress government has not given any compensation amount to Santhosh Marakala Gangolli’s family. BJP is working to build the nation, but Congress is dividing it,” he added.
Poojary also slammed district in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj for not taking CM Siddaramaiah to Sri Krishna Math even after receiving Pejawar Swamiji’s invite.
Zilla panchayat vice-president Sheela K Shetty and Uday Kumar Shetty, state party executive spoke on the occasion.
Shreesha Naik, Naveen Kuthyaru, Kuyladi Suresh Nayak, Shyamala Kundar, Akshath Shetty, Sandhya Ramesh and others were present.
BJP members tried to gherao Congress office near Brahmagiri. The police arrested the protestors.