Bengaluru: Sangolli Rayanna Brigade would intensify agitation if BJP state unit fails to revoke the suspension of some BJP leaders associated with it, according to K Virupakshappa, state president, Sangolli Rayanna Brigade.
Speaking with media persons here on Thursday, Virupakshappa said the activists of Sangolli Rayanna Brigade expect the BJP national leaders to intervene and solve all the issues, including the recent suspensions of some BJP leaders for being associated with Sangolli Rayanna Brigade. “We are hopeful of BJP leadership to revoke the suspension of some BJP leaders. If the BJP leadership fails to revoke the suspension of BJP leaders, we will not hesitate to organize agitations across the state. As of now, we have been receiving many phone calls from various districts seeking permission to organise agitations,’’ Virupakshappa said.
He said that many mutt chiefs could not attend Sangolli Rayanna Brigade convention held at Nandagad on December 6 due to pressure from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and B S Yeddyurappa. “We have met more than 35 mutt chiefs personally and enquired why they could not make it to the convention at Nandagad. The majority of them told us that they could not make it due to the pressure from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa. Now, they have assured to attend Sangolli Rayanna Brigade convention at Kudalasangama on January 26. We expect two lakh people to attend the convention,’’ he said.
He said the next convention of Sangolli Rayanna Brigade would be held in the last week of February. “We will take the decision on the venue of the convention after January 26. We may opt either Bengaluru or Davangere to organize the convention,’’ he said.
Eshwarappa is guest, not a leader
K Virupakshappa, state president, Sangolli Rayanna Brigade, said K S Eshwarappa, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, would attend the convention at Kudalasangama as a guest. “We have already made it clear that K S Eshwarappa is not a frontline leader of Sangolli Rayanna Brigade. He has been attending Sangolli Rayanna Brigade meetings as a guest only. He is not a leader of Sangolli Rayanna Brigade,’’ Virupakshappa said.
When asked about extending an invitation to Congress leaders, he said the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade had extended invitations only to BJP leaders. “We have not invited Congress or other political leaders to the convention to be held at Kudalasangama. We have no objection if Congress or JD(S) leaders want to attend the convention,’’ he said.
