Mangaluru: Workers of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) organised a massive foot-rally ‘SP Office Chalo’ on Friday evening in protest of the arrest of three of its workers by the Belthangady police a few days ago.
The SDPI workers were arrested for raising pro-Pakistani slogans.
The protest rally began from the Clock Tower and moved towards the Superintendent of Police’s office, but they were stopped by a huge battalion of police who used barricades to stop their progression.
Undeterred, the agitators sat on the road and raised slogans, demanding the police to release the arrested and dismiss Belthangady police sub-inspector Nandakumar.
Speaking on the occasion, SDPI leader Shafi Bellare said, “There is no doubt that the government is supporting the police in the Belthangady incident. The government has turned a blind eye towards the hunger, poverty and unemployment in the country and has not even introduced any people-friendly schemes. Farmers have been protesting for nearly two months and the government isn’t too bothered about settling their grievances. If the BJP calls Pakistan our enemy, why is our Prime Minister visiting that country and savouring their biriyani?”
He alleged that the incident in Belthangady is the BJP’s tactic to project Muslims as anti-nationals. “Three members of the SDPI were unnecessarily arrested and within three days, yet another video made was uploaded to social media, where a party member was raising a pro-Pakistan slogan. Until justice is served and our demands are fulfilled, we will intensify our fight,” he warned.
The protest ended after Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar arrived at the spot and accepted their memorandum.
