Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SS)

Mangalore, Nov 11: Following in the footsteps of their leader B S Yeddyurappa, the local unit of Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) staged a protest against the Congress state government's ambitious 'Shaadi Bhagya' scheme. The protest was held near DC's office here on Monday November 11.

The protestors demanded that the 'Shaadi Bhagya' scheme which aims at providing financial assistance to needy Muslim brides be extended to the poor in other communities as well.

Jagdish Hiremani, state youth president of KJP said, “From the past 6 months since the Congress government has come into power it has tried to create differences between the people. In the name of welfare of minorities the Congress government is playing politics for vote bank; it is not concerned about any community.”

“B S Yeddyurappa has resorted to a hunger strike in Bangalore since October 31. He has been demanding that the government must extend the Shaadi Bhagya scheme not only to minorities, but to all the poor women irrespective of communities in the state,” he added.

Jagdish Hiremani also said, “Yeddyurappa has declared that he would continue to protest until there is an official announcement from the government, and warned that he would also protest along with other party members during the forthcoming Assembly session at Belgaum.”

The KJP demanded that there must be no discrimination and schemes must be implemented irrespective of community. Moreover the protestors also noted that the earlier government had provided benefits to both BPL as well as APL card holders but now it has been restricted to only BPL card holders, which must be rectified.

KJP leader Ramachandra Baikampady, Aziz Baikampady, district conveners of KJP and other party members were present.