Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Sep 3: MP Nalin Kumar Kateel of BJP on Sunday September 3 hit out at the Siddaramaiah-led Congress state government over delay on the part of the police in granting permission to the mega 'Mangaluru Chalo' rally by BJP Yuva Morcha scheduled to be held on September 7.

BJP and its supporters from various parts of the state are expected to arrive in thousands of bikes for the rally, which is being held to demand ban on PFI and KFD outfits in the wake of attacks and murders of youths belonging to the majority community.

Addressing a press meet here, Nalin Kateel said, "Siddaramaiah is trying to impose emergency through the backdoor. He is behaving like Hitler. He does not want to raise voice against his government and party even when they do wrong. He is using the police and the administrative machinery against the opposition parties.

"We sought permission for 'Mangaluru Chalo rally a week ago. But the police and the authorities have not yet granted us the permission. Moreover, the police are threatening hall owners who have come forward to provide accommodation to the participants of the rally who will arrive from other districts.

"But whatever be the case, we will go ahead with our programme without any changes. In a democratic nation, the government has the responsibility of provideing complete security to rallies and the participants," he said, demanding adequate security arrangements to ensure that the rally goes on without a hitch.

"After the police threat, if hall owners deny accommodation to the participants, we will make alternative arrangements. Around 4,000 families have come forward to accommodate the outsiders and we are working on it," he said.

"Our demand is that the government should ban PFI, SDPI and KFD. The members of these organizations are working with anti-Hindu agenda. Many of our members have been murdered by them. The police and the NIA have clear clues that these organizations are involved in terror activities. But Siddaramaiah is protecting them. We can say that the state government is protecting terrorists and exploiting the common man and the Hindu community," he alleged.

"Actually, Siddaramaiah does not want peace to prevail in society. For instance, he started Tipu Jayanti. Celebration of birthday is prohibited in Islam. But just to create tension, he ordered celebration of Tipu Jayanti. His plan was to split the Muslim community. Now he has started to split the Hindu community as well, by stirring Lingayat and Veerashaiva controversy. He is following the 'divide and rule' formula of the British.

"If the government fails to provide protection to our Mangaluru Chalo rally, we will see how Congress minister Ramanath Rai conducts unity march with government protection on September 12," he warned.

BJP district president Sanjeev Matandoor, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, former minister Krishna J Palemar, former MLC Monappa Bhandary and others were present.