Tipu Jayanthi: Hundreds of BJP workers arrested in Kodagu for violating Prohibitory orders

Bengaluru, Nov 10:  Hundreds of BJP workers, along with three BJP legislators were detained in Kodagu district when they protested against Karnataka government sponsored Tipu Jayanti Celebrations which was held amid tight police security on Saturday.

Protests by BJP workers and members of other right-wing organisations marked the Tipu Jayanti celebrations in Kodagu, which had witnessed violent incidents in 2015 leading to killing of two persons.

Police mounted tight security across the state with several districts coming under prohibitory orders under Sec 144 of CrPC.

In the state capital the government organised the celebrations at Banquet Hall in Vidhana Soudha despite protests by the BJP and other right wing organisations. Police screened every person entering the State Secretariat with official invitation and there were some curbs on even media persons.

However chief minister H D Kumaraswamy was conspirious in his absence at Vidhana Soudha as he was away from town on a three day rest as per the advise of doctors. He is staying with his family in a place near Mysuru. The grand function was held under the leadership of deputy chief minister G Parameshwara.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, the Chairman of the coordination committee of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government was honoured by minister Jamir Ahmed Khan and other Muslim leaders who presented him with a silver sword for his unstinted support for celebration of Tipu Jayanti.

The celebrations was organised by the government in most of the districts with heavy bandobust provided by the police. No untoward incidents were reported from any of these districts.

However, BJP opposes the celebration saying that the 19th century warrior king was a ‘bigot’ and had involved in murdering large number of Hindus in Karnataka and Kerala and also tried to force them for religious conversion.

In Kodagu, Virajpet former Legislative Assembly speaker and BJP MLA K G Bopaiah was arrested when he tried to take out a protest march of BJP workers despite the ban orders. Similarly MLC Sunil Subramanya along with large number of BJP workers was detained in Madikeri when they tried to stage a black flag demonstration and raised slogans against the government. Another Assembly member Apachu Ranjan representing Madikeri was also detained in the hilly town.

Mr Subramanya and Mr Ranjan were locked in a heated argument even as the party workers shouted slogans against the celebration wearing black robs and waving flags. The agitators aired slogans against the Congress-JD(S) coalition government.

The protest began when the police prevented people from entering the celebration venue for those who do not have invitation cards. BJP workers along with Mr Bopaiah were also arrested in Virajpet where they staged protest wearing block strips .

However, no protests by BJP workers in Mysuru as well as Srirangapatna, in Mandya district, official sources said.

The Mysuru city police have clamped prohibitory orders for two days from yesterday as precautionary measure and to maintain law and order.

In Srirangapatna, a large police presence is in place to ensure law and order.