Sullia: Congress-BJP Activists Clash, Police Resort to Baton Charge
Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (VA)
Sullia, Aug 14: Clashes between Congress and BJP members for two different reasons created a tense situation for around an hour here on Saturday August 13.
Vehicular movement was hindered during the two separate protests staged by BJP and Congress members. Later the police had to resort to caning to disperse the mob.
The Congress activists staged a protest demanding an apology from RSS leader Dr Prabhakar Bhat for his alleged remarks against educationist Dr Kurunji Venkatramana Gowda that the latter did not have manners. The protest was pre-planned by the Sullia Block Congress committee almost 15 days ago.
On the other hand, BJP Yuva Morcha called for a protest against former minister Ramanath Rai for his remarks against Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda. Rai had allegedly called the new government 'Alibaba and 40 thieves'. In turn, the BJP Yuva Morcha had said Rai would not be allowed to enter Sullia.
When they learnt that Rai had landed in Sullia to take part in the Congress protest, the Yuva Morcha activists staged a road blockade and rushed towards the podium when Rai started addressing the gathering. Police had no option left than resorting to mild caning to disperse the mob.
Rai later said that he came to Sullia despite BJP members not letting him enter the town. "I will still stick to my remark about Alibaba and 40 theives. Yeddyurappa, Shobha, Renukacharya, Reddy, Katta, Hallappa - are all these people not thieves?" he questioned.