Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Updated
Mangaluru, Sep 4: The city police have decided not to grant permission for the much talked-about 'Mangaluru Chalo' rally planned by BJP Yuva Morcha to demand ban on PFI, KFD and SDPI.
The BJP had planned to hold its mega 'Mangaluru Chalo' bike rally on September 7, during which BJP workers, supporters and right-wing organizations were expected to arrive in the city from various districts in thousands. Mysuru BJP MP Pratap Simha had even come to Mangaluru and announced the same in a press meet, stating that Mangaluru was chosen as the centre as several right-wing youths had been attacked and murdered in this region.
In a statement to the media on Monday September 4, police commissioner T R Suresh said that as Mangaluru is a communally sensitive region, and in view of the recent incidents of communal violence that erupted in the district, the police have decided not to allow the Mangaluru Chalo rally as well as the public meet planned by the BJP.
"In order to maintain peace and in public interest, permission has been denied for the Mangaluru Chalo rally that was planned for September 7 by BJP Yuva Morcha," the police commissioner said.
It may be recalled that MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had slammed the state government over delaying permission to the rally, and had demanded police security for the rally too.
Minister U T Khader on the other hand had urged the BJP to cancel the rally in view of maintaining peace in the district. SDPI too had urged the police not to grant permission for the rally.
We will go ahead with the rally: MP Nalin Kateel
Reacting to the development, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel hit out at the Siddaramaiah-led Congress state government and said that the permission for the Mangaluru Chalo rally was denied as Congress 'fears' losing the 2018 Assembly elections.
"The Congress is under a fear that it will lose the next Assembly elections in the state. Living in a democratic country, we have the right to protest. By denying us the permission to hold the rally, the Congress is trying to infringe upon our rights.
"We will hold the rally despite the denial of permission. We are ready for the rally and it will go as planned. Over 20,000 people will participate. If the government has guts, let it stop us," he challenged.