Karkala: Political tension escalated in Karkala on Wednesday after Congress workers attempted to launch a sticker campaign demanding the resignation of Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar over the Parashurama Theme Park controversy.
Police detained more than 20 Congress workers, including Karkala Block Congress president Shubhada Rao, before they could begin the campaign.
Congress announces sticker campaign
The Congress had announced the campaign following allegations surrounding the Parashurama Theme Park.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Shubhada Rao demanded Sunil Kumar’s resignation, alleging that a fake Parashurama statue had been installed at the theme park.
She had announced that the campaign would be taken up at the grassroots level, beginning with an attempt to paste a sticker at the MLA’s residence.
On Wednesday, Congress workers gathered at the Karkala Congress office and proceeded towards the MLA’s residence.
However, police stopped them near Sarvajna Circle before they could reach their destination.
Congress workers detained
More than 20 Congress workers, including Shubhada Rao, were taken into custody by the police.
Following the intervention, the Congress workers sat on the road and raised slogans against Sunil Kumar. Police detained the protesters and shifted them in a police vehicle to prevent the situation from escalating.
The police action came amid heightened political activity in the town, with BJP workers also gathering in large numbers in support of the MLA.
Over 200 BJP workers gather
Anticipating the Congress campaign, more than 200 BJP workers assembled near Sunil Kumar’s residence and office.
While around 25 Congress workers had reportedly participated in the proposed sticker campaign, more than 200 BJP workers gathered in support of the MLA and raised slogans against Shubhada Rao.
BJP leader Mutlupady Satish Shetty criticised the Congress campaign and described the leaders who planned to paste stickers at the MLA’s residence as “cowardly”.
Shetty claimed that no case had been registered against Sunil Kumar in connection with the Parashurama Theme Park issue and maintained that the MLA was not an accused in the matter.
He accused Congress leaders of making false allegations and spreading misinformation. He also urged police to register suo motu cases against those allegedly spreading false news.
Shetty warned that the BJP would give an appropriate response if similar incidents were repeated.
BJP leaders warn Congress
Former Zilla Panchayat member Sumith Shetty Koudur also criticised the Congress campaign.
He challenged Congress workers to paste stickers at the houses of ordinary BJP workers instead of targeting the MLA’s residence and office, warning that they would face a fitting response.
The statements from both sides added to the political tension surrounding the Parashurama Theme Park controversy.
Elaborate security arrangements
Police had made extensive security arrangements in anticipation of the Congress campaign and to prevent any untoward incident.
More than 100 police personnel were deployed near Hotel Jain at Sarvajna Circle. Additional security was provided at Sunil Kumar’s residence and office.
Karkala sub-divisional ASP Ishitha Gupta, Kapu Circle Inspector Ajmat Ali, Karkala Rural Police Station SI Prasanna M S, Karkala Town Police Station SI Shivakumar, Kapu SI Tejaswi and Padubidri SI Shakthivel led the security arrangements.
The police deployment helped prevent direct confrontation between the rival groups and ensured that the situation did not escalate further.
BJP submits memorandum
Meanwhile, BJP workers expressed their displeasure over the Congress campaign and submitted a memorandum to the Karkala ASP and tahsildar.
They sought appropriate action against the Congress workers involved in the campaign.
The developments have once again brought the Parashurama Theme Park issue into the political spotlight, with the ruling BJP and opposition Congress taking opposing positions.
The police intervention and preventive deployment ensured that the proposed campaign did not proceed as planned, while the exchange of allegations between the two parties has added to political tensions in Karkala.