Areas within Bhatkal, dominated by Muslims, have worn deserted look since morning. Muslim contractors from the town have declared holiday for all the workers including non-Muslims. Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem has asked Muslims not to venture out of their houses. Security has been beefed up in the town, with over 500 police personnel manning areas in and around the town. Even two-wheelers are off the roads. Normal life stays paralyzed.
Muslims have also called for bandh at Sirsi and Haliyal in Uttara Kannada and Gangolli, Shiroor and other places in Kundapur taluk. Jamiya Ahale Hadees has been supporting this bandh call. A delegation of Muslims will go in a procession at 11 am to the office of the deputy superintendent of police at Sirsi to file complaint against the MP, it is gathered.
In the meanwhile, M G Naik, district president of BJP, has criticized Tanzeem for its action, reminding the organiation that the MP enjoys freedom of expression. He pointed out that when severe criticism was heaped by vested interested against Hinduism, Congress had supported the concerned, claiming it to be freedom of expression. Taluk BJP president, K G Naik Hanajibail, addressing a press conference at Siddapur, said that this issue is being blown out of proportion unnecessarily. He felt that the state government has been backing these efforts.
Criticisms and condemnations against the MP's comments have poured in from various parts of the district including Karwar, Mundgold, Dandeli, and other places.