Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb 24: The Karnataka High Court has granted permission for a protest in Mysuru condemning the recent attack on the Udayagiri police station, after the state government initially refused and imposed prohibitory orders.
The court, led by Justice R. Devdas, allowed the protest to take place at the Mysuru Football Grounds on Monday, following a petition by the Rashtra Suraksha Janandolana Samiti.
The court instructed the Mysuru City Police Commissioner, Seema Latkar, to ensure the peaceful conduct of the protest, with organisers being asked to furnish a bond of Rs 1 lac, accepting responsibility for any untoward incidents. The court also emphasised that no provocative statements should be made during the event.
Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, who had travelled to Mysuru to participate in the protest, sharply criticised the state government for its handling of the incident. Speaking to the media, Ashoka accused the Congress-led administration of "Islamisation of Karnataka" for the sake of political gain.
"This attack on the Udayagiri police station should make the Congress government hang its head in shame. The law was violated, and a group of Muslim rioters attacked police officers and the police station. The message the government is sending is that it will allow such violence as long as it guarantees votes," Ashoka said.
He also alleged that Congress leaders were downplaying the incident, claiming the rioters were "just children who didn’t know what they were doing". Ashoka added, "The state’s law and order situation is deteriorating. People are openly carrying swords in public, and the police are under pressure, unable to act. We will continue protesting until this government is overthrown."
Ashoka also questioned the FIR filed against former BJP MP Pratap Simha in connection with the incident, saying it was a routine for Simha, who has faced multiple FIRs in the past. "When I was the Home Minister, I had to provide Simha with security after receiving threats on his life. He didn’t fear for his life then – why would he fear this FIR?" Ashoka asked.
The Leader of Opposition further accused the Congress party of disrespecting democracy during the Emergency period. "The Congress jailed judges, journalists, and editors back then. When someone in Mysuru made an objectionable comment about Lord Ram, did Hindus attack a police station? No, the law took its course. The person was arrested, and the court granted bail," Ashoka stated.
Ashoka went on to accuse the police of being intimidated by political pressures, citing the attack on the Udayagiri police station. "Radical Muslims, with no fear of the law, attacked the police station armed with stones, machetes, and swords. The rioters planned to burn down the police station, but the police prevented it. More than 1,000 people were involved in the attack, yet only 17 arrests have been made," he claimed.
He alleged that after Home Minister G. Parameshwara visited the police station, the process of arresting the rioters had stopped. "The government is pressuring the police, and the rioters are being protected," Ashoka said.
The Samiti, along with the BJP, is holding a massive convention in Mysuru on Monday to protest the alleged inaction of the state government in the Udayagiri police station attack case. As of now, 17 individuals, including the Islamic religious teacher who made the provocative hate speech, have been arrested. The organisers have called for a peaceful protest to raise awareness about the incident and demand justice.