Harshini Brahmavar

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Sep 10: “Congress leaders and activists were protesting peacefully. They were requesting shop keepers. But BJP activists, holding the their party flags, interrupted our protests and urged to open closed shops. Police unnecessarily resorted to lathi charge. District in-charge minister Dr Jayamala and home minister will be informed about it,” said former Udupi MLA Pramod Madhwaraj.

He was responding to reporters about Bharath bandh.

“What was the need for BJP protests in front of SP’s office? People of Udupi had responded excellently. There was no forced bandh anywhere. When bandh was in progress, opposition party members holding party flags intervened in some places and expressed their opposition. BJP has disrupted peaceful protests in the past also. We have never interrupted their protests,” he added. 

“District SP personally lathi charging on congress activists is condemnable. Police violence against Congress city councilor Ramesh Kanchan, Vijaya Poojary and activist R K Ramesh is condemnable. How can police who needed to remain calm in such grim situations lose patience?” he asked.

“There should be investigations about police excesses. There should also be investigations if Congress party has forced for bandh,” he said.