Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jan 2: Joint Action Committee of Dakshina Kannada District Secular Parties held a protest in front of Dr B R Ambedkar statue at town hall, condemning the recent violence at Mangaluru opposing Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), in which two people were killed in police firing, on Thursday, January 2.

The protest was kicked-off by former minister B Ramanath Rai by garlanding the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar.

Addressing the protestors, former minister B Ramanath Rai said, “We demand a judicial probe into the police firing in Mangaluru that occurred on December 19, which claimed two innocent lives. During the process several allegations have come up with no proof. We demand to provide compensation to the injured as well to the families of the two deceased people.

"There is widespread protest opposing CAA and NRC and we strongly condemn the move of implementing CAA and NRC by the central government. What was the need of imposing section 144 in the entire state when there was no scope for any kind of violence? What was the need of resorting to lathi-charge when there is some protocol that needs to be followed before opening fire on protesters? Protocol was not followed during the December 19 violence. Protesting is the democratic right, which has been snatched away. We must come forward in large numbers and oppose the move by the central government.

"BJP had pre-planned the violence. Who imposed Section 144? On whose orders it was imposed? Chief minister B S Yediyurappa and home minister Basavaraj Bommai are the reason behind the violence,” he said.

MLC Ivan D’Souza, Harish Kumar, former MLA J R Lobo, Abhayachandra Jain, CPIM leaders Muneer Katipalla, Santhosh Kumar Bajal, Sunil Kumar Bajal, JD(S) leaders Mohammed Kunjhi, Akshith Suvarna and others were present.