Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS/HB)

Udupi, Oct 11: Convener of 'Udupi Chalo' B R Bhaskar Prasad on Saturday October 10 alleged that Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath was protecting Hathras rape accused as they belong to a particular community.

An effigy of Yogi Adityanath was also burnt on the occasion as the protesters expressed their rage against the rape and murder of Dalit girl in Hathras of Uttar Pradesh. The protest was held on Saturday at the War Memorial near Ajjarkad in the city.

Bhaskar Prasad further said, "CM of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath does not have the character of a sage. He is mentally sick. He is a disgrace to his position and the saffron cloth he is wearing. Yogi had 52 criminal cases filed against him before he won the elections. After his reign has started in UP, atrocities on Dalits by people of upper castes have increased considerably.

"It is condemnable that the UP government has gone to the extent of defending the rape and murder of the Dalit girl. The act of UP police of preventing and manhandling Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi from visiting the family of the victim girl is condemnable. BJP, which boasts of revering women is behaving in unethical manner with the women.

"Yogi Adityanath is trying to protect the accused of Hathras rape case just because they belong to the same caste as that of Yogi. In the same place if the victim girl belonged to upper caste and the accused had been a Dalit, his dead body would be thrown by this time on the street. If the Hathras rape accused is still alive, our system is responsible for it. The system of our country should change drastically. Atrocities conducted on Dalits should stop. Scores of rapists who are in prison should be punished."

Labour leader B M Bhat, leaders Jayan Malpe, Sundar Kappettu, Ramesh Pal, Ganesh Nergi, Manjunath Giliyaru, district president of Ambedkar Yuvasene Harish Salian Malpe, president of Kaup taluk Lokesh Padubidri, Malpe president Krishna Sriyan Nergi, leaders Manjunath Kappettu, Santhosh Kappettu, Bhagawan Malpe, Shashikala Thottam, Congress office bearers Ramesh Kanchan, Veronica Cornelio, Dr Sunita, Udyavar Nagesh Kumar, district unit president of All Karnataka D K Shivakumar Fans' association Charan Bangera Doddanagudde, city president Suhas S Poojary and former president of city municiaplity Yuvaraj K were present.