Mangaluru, Feb 4: A few dozen members of Hindutva organisations Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal staged a protest in front of PVS junction in the centre of the city against the state government for imposing a ban on VHP leader Praveen Togadia from entering Bengaluru for a few days.
The protestors shouted slogans against the state government, and condemned the ban due to which Praveen Togadia would be unable to attend the Hindu Virat Samavesha scheduled to be held on February 8 in Bengaluru.
The protestors also obstructed traffic flow at the junction for nearly half an hour before they were dispersed by the police.
On Tuesday, the Bengaluru Police Commissioner M N Reddi issued a notice to Togadia prohibiting him from entering into the city. This ban came in the wake of provocative speeches made by Praveen Togadia in the past Hindu conventions and subsequent rioting in the surrounding areas.
Urging withdrawal of the ban, the VHP and Bajrang Dal staged several protests in different parts of the state on Wednesday.
Addressing the protestors, Bajrang Dal convenor Sharan Pumpwell alleged that the state government was following anti-Hindu policy and trying to oppress the Hindu community. No communal tension was sparked in several districts where Praveen Togadia took part in conventions previously. He has taken part in conventions even in other states, but no harm had been done. He had not been convicted in any criminal cases registered against him, he alleged.
He warned the state government to allow Togadia to take part in the convention failing which, the government would be responsible for any untoward incidents in Bengaluru.
VHP district leader Jitendra Kottary also said, “If there is disruption of peace in the state over the ban on Togadia, the state government will be held responsible.
Jagadish Shenava warned of intensifying the protests if the ban was not withdrawn before the convention.
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