NEW DELHI: Tensions prevailed in Karnataka’s Keragodu village on Monday a day after protests erupted over the removal of a saffron Hanuman flag by the district administration. Security has also been stepped up in the area as the situation remains tense but under control.
The protests continued throughout Monday with people demanding that the flag, hoisted atop a 108-foot pole, be reinstated. The police and administration had hoisted the Tricolour replacing the ‘Hanuman Dhwaja’.
The district administration on Sunday had imposed prohibitory orders and called in police reinforcements after tension gripped the village near Mandya town.
The police had to even resort to mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.
On Monday, the protesters marched from Keragodu to the deputy commissioner’s office in the district headquarters of Mandya holding saffron flags amid chants of “Jai Sri Ram”.
The protesters, led by BJP leaders C T Ravi and Preetham Gowda, also raised slogans against the Congress government.
The incident has also led to a war of words between the Congress government and the opposition BJP-JD(S).
Chief minister Siddaramaiah lashed out at the opposition for trying to politicize the issue by provoking the locals ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Siddaramaiah clarified the authorities had to intervene as permission was taken to hoist the Tricolour and Kannada flag only. He also hit back at the BJP for calling him “anti-Hindu”, and asserted he is a Hindu who loves people from all religions.
Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar also said that the BJP is trying to disturb peace in the region for political gains.
“BJP leaders are trying to disturb peace in Mandya for political gains. BJP candidates lost deposits in many of the constituencies in Mandya that is why they are trying to find a political base by joining hands with the JD(S),” the deputy chief minister said.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders and workers protested at the district headquarters, denouncing the Congress government’s “anti-Hindu policy” and accusing it of “insulting” the national flag.
In Bengaluru, BJP held a protest at Mysuru Bank circle led by Jayanagara MLA C K Ramamurthy and other leaders. They were detained by the police as no permission was given for the protest.
Keragodu, a village with a population of about 8,000 where agriculture is the mainstay, is about 20km from Mandya town and 55km from Mysuru.
A local organisation had approached the Keragodu gram panchayat, seeking permission to set up a flag post and unfurl a flag.
Though the panchayat had given its conditional approval, a group of youths allegedly hoisted a religious flag (bhagwa) on January 19, which was ignored by villagers or GP till Republic Day.
On R-Day, panchayat officials brought down the bhagwa flag and unfurled the Tricolour and brought it down at dusk as is the practice.
On Saturday morning, the saffron flag was back on the post, setting the stage for confrontation between the youths and the district administration.
Tempers flared on Sunday morning when the saffron flag was lowered, with some activists slamming the government.
(With inputs from agencies)
The protests continued throughout Monday with people demanding that the flag, hoisted atop a 108-foot pole, be reinstated. The police and administration had hoisted the Tricolour replacing the ‘Hanuman Dhwaja’.
The district administration on Sunday had imposed prohibitory orders and called in police reinforcements after tension gripped the village near Mandya town.
The police had to even resort to mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.
On Monday, the protesters marched from Keragodu to the deputy commissioner’s office in the district headquarters of Mandya holding saffron flags amid chants of “Jai Sri Ram”.
The protesters, led by BJP leaders C T Ravi and Preetham Gowda, also raised slogans against the Congress government.
The incident has also led to a war of words between the Congress government and the opposition BJP-JD(S).
Chief minister Siddaramaiah lashed out at the opposition for trying to politicize the issue by provoking the locals ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Siddaramaiah clarified the authorities had to intervene as permission was taken to hoist the Tricolour and Kannada flag only. He also hit back at the BJP for calling him “anti-Hindu”, and asserted he is a Hindu who loves people from all religions.
Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar also said that the BJP is trying to disturb peace in the region for political gains.
“BJP leaders are trying to disturb peace in Mandya for political gains. BJP candidates lost deposits in many of the constituencies in Mandya that is why they are trying to find a political base by joining hands with the JD(S),” the deputy chief minister said.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders and workers protested at the district headquarters, denouncing the Congress government’s “anti-Hindu policy” and accusing it of “insulting” the national flag.
In Bengaluru, BJP held a protest at Mysuru Bank circle led by Jayanagara MLA C K Ramamurthy and other leaders. They were detained by the police as no permission was given for the protest.
Keragodu, a village with a population of about 8,000 where agriculture is the mainstay, is about 20km from Mandya town and 55km from Mysuru.
A local organisation had approached the Keragodu gram panchayat, seeking permission to set up a flag post and unfurl a flag.
Though the panchayat had given its conditional approval, a group of youths allegedly hoisted a religious flag (bhagwa) on January 19, which was ignored by villagers or GP till Republic Day.
On R-Day, panchayat officials brought down the bhagwa flag and unfurled the Tricolour and brought it down at dusk as is the practice.
On Saturday morning, the saffron flag was back on the post, setting the stage for confrontation between the youths and the district administration.
Tempers flared on Sunday morning when the saffron flag was lowered, with some activists slamming the government.
(With inputs from agencies)
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