Bengaluru: Defying orders, BJP activists went ahead with “Mangaluru Chalo” rally across various districts in the state prompting the police to detain several activists, including former home minister R Ashok and MP Shobha Karandlaje.
Though the police chiefs had denied permission to take out a bike rally citing that it may disrupt the communal fabric in the society and traffic concerns among others, the rally demanding a ban on SDPI, PFI outfits, resignation of Mangaluru district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai and justice for murdered Hindu activists was flagged off by R Ashok at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Tuesday morning.
BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa who was supposed to flag the event heeded to the Bengaluru police advise not to leave his residence fearing a possible attack on him.
Speaking after flagging off the rally, R Ashok said that the BJP will continue to organise such rallies seeking justice for Hindus.
“You can stop us here, or at different places, but you cannot stop us from going to Mangaluru. How many will you arrest? Lakhs will come,” said R Ashok before being detained by the police.
Spaeking to media persons CM Siddaramaiah stated that the party was not against rallies or public meetings which are the essence of democracy until no law & order situation emerges from such demonstrations. He however said that the BJP activists should uphold public harmony and could have organised a march instead of bike rally that will create traffic issues.
I would join a march taken by the BJP till New Delhi if issue of loan waivers from nationalized banks was taken up, he said.
Meanwhile the police have detained several activists at Hubballi, Kolar too when they tried to kick off the rally.
A checkpoint has been set up at Nelamangala to stop BJP workers from leaving Bengaluru.
