Police say no to ‘Mangaluru Chalo’

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 05, 2017: The Congress and the BJP appear set for a showdown, with the Dakshina Kannada district and Mangaluru City police denying permission for the proposed ‘Mangaluru Chalo’ motorcycle rally by the latter’s youth wing, culminating in the coastal city on Thursday. The police in Bengaluru and Hubballi from where rallies are to set out on Tuesday have denied permission, and this goes for several other districts en route.

However, a defiant BJP has announced that it will go ahead with the rally and the government would have to take responsibility for any fallout. Senior party leaders in Bengaluru met Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy and demanded that the rally be permitted, but Mr. Reddy said it was up to the local police.

Mangaluru City Police Commissioner T.R. Suresh told The Hindu that had it been a political rally, the police would have considered according permission. “There is every chance of the rally turning into communal strife,” he said.

The rally has been called to seek a ban on organisations — KFD and PFI — for their alleged role in the deaths of several right-wing activists and to demand a CBI inquiry. Meanwhile, BJP Yuva Morcha State president Pratap Simha told The Hindu that denial of permission indicates how “desperate” the government is to curtail the rally. Nalin Kumar Kateel, Dakshina Kannada MP, said the refusal indicated Congress’ “fear of losing the forthcoming Assembly polls”, adding that holding protests is everyone’s democratic right. The police have advised the organisers to conduct a convention in Mangaluru, for which permission would be accorded if a suitable application is made. However, the organisers are bent upon holding the motorcycle rally, the Commissioner said.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar on Monday night issued an order prohibiting bike rallies in the city between 12 a.m on September 5 and September 8, 12 a.m. The order was issued under Section 35 (3) of the Karnataka Police Act, which allows for the ban of assembly or processions in the interest of public order.