Chikkamagaluru, Nov 27: Provocative statements by leaders of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal ahead of Datta Jayanti programme at the historic Baba Budangiri darga site on the outskirts of the city has created a tense atmosphere in the communally sensitive region.
The activists of VHP and BD are also organising bike rallies in different parts of Chikkamangaluru district to mobilise people for the three-day saffron event beginning on December 1. With the Assembly elections coming soon, the programme has gained significance.
The saffron outfit leaders have been repeatedly saying that they would exhibit their strength on December 3 in Baba Budangiri. A Bajrang Dal leader on Saturday warned that the December 6 incident (Babri mosque demolition) may recur in Baba Budangiri too if Muslims failed to voluntarily shift their graves from the site. SDPI has demanded the police to arrest those who deliver provocative speeches.
Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been demanding that the Baba Budan Dargah is declared a Hindu shrine, are also participating in bike rallies.
VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders have often said that they would mobilise good crowds for the programme this year and pressurise the State government to declare the shrine a place of worship for Hindus.
In view of the three-day event, the Chikkamagaluru district administration has imposed prohibitory orders as per various sections of the Criminal Procedure Code. Those participating in the rally or procession have been restricted from carrying weapons and raising objectionable slogans.
Deputy Commissioner M.K. Srirangaiah has said that the administration will make arrangements for providing basic facilities for the devotees visiting the shrine during the event. Carrying cameras and phones inside the shrine has been banned.
Meanwhile, the district administration has put a restriction on tourists’ visit to places around Baba Budangiri Darga for three days from December 1, in view of the Datta Jayanti.
Srirangaiah has issued a press release stating that no tourists would be allowed to Baba Budangiri, Mullayyanagiri and other places in the hilly ranges. Similarly, movement of long chassis vehicle on the narrow roads connecting these places has also been stopped.
The Datta Mala Abhiyana that began on November 24 will conclude on December 3 when the devotees visit Baba Budangiri for the “religious” programme. Prior to that, the organisers will take out a Sankeertana Yatra on December 1 and Shobha Yatra on December 2.
The kidnapped schoolboy was rescued by the police and reunited with his parents. Son of a gift shop owner from Basavanagudi area in Bengaluru, Chirag has reportedly told police that decided to make some quick money to spend on cricket betting and gambling after learning kidnap tricks from the ‘Crime Patrol’. According to police, Chirag reached a private school around 3pm on Tuesday on a Bounce rental bike and zeroed in on a fourth standard student who was walking out of school. He told the boy he was his father's friend and that he required help to search for a relative who had gone missing. The boy believed Chirag and rode pillion on the bike. Chirag then engaged the boy in conversation and learnt about his father's business and got his mobile phone number. He then made a call to the boy's father, demanded Rs 5 lakh and warned him against approaching cops. However, the boy's father alerted Cottonpet police and special teams were formed to crack the case. While Cottonpet inspector Venkatesh TC's squad verified CCTV footage in and around the school, Chamarajpet inspector BG Kumaraswamy's team started tracking the suspect's mobile phone movements. An hour later, the suspect's location was traced to a hotel on the Lavelle Road-St Mark's Road stretch. Police rushed there, rescued the boy and arrested Chirag.
Comments
At the end of the day both are face of same coin. Even this people are confused whose shrine it is. Dargah or Durgah both are same
Im sure no upper caste RSS will be on field and those who give such hateful speech will be infront of camera and shout . after shouting they will hide until damage is done by the people who doesnt want to use their God given intellect and stay away from evil disturbance in the society.
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