BJP planning to bring Amit Shah to trouble-hit Bantwal in August?

Mangaluru, Jun 22: The Bharatiya Janata Party supremo Amit Shah, who will be touring Karnataka for three days from August 3 may visit the communally sensitive areas of Dakshina Kannada district too, a local leader of the party said on condition of anonymity.

Entire Bantwal taluk is reeling under prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC for almost past one month thanks to the communal tensions erupted after the sporadic incidents of stabbing and stone pelting in areas like Kalladka. The murder of SDPI activist Ashraf Kalai in Benjanapadavu village on June 21 has worsened the situation in the taluk.

The Sangh Parivar has been demanding the release of the accused belonging to saffron outfits arrested in connection with the recent communal clashes in Kalladka. Hindutva groups had also planned a massive protest in Bantwal taluk on June 24.

The political activities also have gained momentum in the taluk as BJP has formally extended complete support the protest aimed targeting Congress leader and district in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai. However, the extension prohibitory orders in four taluks of Dakshina Kannada district till June 27 may force the saffron groups to postpone the protest.

If sources are to be believed, the district BJP has planned to continue to pressurize Mr Rai till 2018 Karnataka polls. As part of this plan, the state BJP leadership may ask Mr Shah to pay a visit to Bantwal taluk.

During his Karnataka visit, Mr Shah will interact with BJP office-bearers, MPs and MLAs to get a feedback on the organisational issues and preparedness for the Assembly elections. The BJP is also keen on doing well in Karnataka, keeping the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in mind.