Pratap Simha, Shobha Karandlaje taken into custody, released later

Mysuru, Nov 8: Several anti-Tipu agitators including two MPs of Bharatiya Janata Party were briefly detained by police in ordered to maintain law and order during a protest in Mysuru on Tuesday.

The district BJP had organised a march from Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple (located outside the Mysuru palace) to the Deputy Commissioner's office n protest against the State government's decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti.

When the protesters began to raise provocative slogans, police stepped into action and detained the several BJP workers. Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje were also taken into custody. However, all of them were released later.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, Ms. Karandlaje came down heavily on the State government for celebrating the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan despite the stiff opposition from the public. Tipu was “anti-Hindu” and had destroyed temples, Ms. Karandlaje said, adding that he had waged a war against the British to save his throne.

Alleging that RSS workers were being killed, she said that the government had failed to act against the culprits. Mr. Pratap Simha said the government was not bothered about protecting RSS workers, who had come under attack, but was more keen on celebrating Tipu Jayanti.

When the BJP leaders tried to take out the march, the police prevented them, leading to a tense situation.

Later, the police took the BJP leaders into custody and released them soon thereafter.

The BJP leaders later reached the DC's office and submitted a memorandum.