Protest in Udupi Against Alleged Police Bias and Suppression of Hindu Activists
A protest was held on November 25 at Oscar Fernandes Circle, Udupi, led by Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar, against the Superintendent of Police and the police department. The protest was organized to condemn the alleged targeting of Hindu activists through false lawsuits.
During the protest, Sunil Kumar remarked, “Khaki should be Khaki, it should not become Congress.” He criticized the police for allegedly targeting Hindu associations without any public unrest, accusing the department of being biased and acting as an agent of the Congress party. He claimed that while Muslim associations are allowed to operate freely, Hindu associations face legal action even for submitting memorandums. He further emphasized that Hindu activists in Udupi were being denied their right to express themselves and vowed to propose a resolution in the upcoming session to condemn this bias.
The protest also highlighted other issues, including the controversy over Muslim stalls at Hindu fairs. Sunil Kumar stated that, according to the law, only Hindu stalls should be permitted at Hindu fairs and questioned why Hindus were being denied the right to conduct business in Hindu temples.
Remarks from Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagarana Vedike
Sunil K R, from Bajrang Dal, accused the Udupi SP of acting as a tool for the state government to appease minority groups. He pointed to incidents like those in Uttar Pradesh and Mangaluru, where police investigations led to attacks on Hindus, and claimed that Hindu activists are being oppressed for their nationalist views. He argued that police should differentiate between nationalists and anti-Hindu elements, instead of filing cases against activists who stand up for Hindu rights.
Prashanth from Hindu Jagarana Vedike stated that they respect the law and the constitution but criticized the police for mocking Hindu activists. He warned that their protests would continue until justice was served, pointing out that despite filing numerous cases against social activists, the SP had failed to act against illegal mining activities in the region.
Memorandum Submitted
After the protest, a memorandum was submitted to the inspector general. Key participants included MLAs Yashpal Suvarna, Gurme Suresh Shetty, Kiran Kumar Kodgi, and Gururaj Gantihole, as well as leaders from Bajrang Dal, Hindu Yuva Sene, and Hindu Jagarana Vedike, along with Udupi district BJP president Kishore Kumar Kundapura and other prominent members.
Read also