Bengaluru: Tension prevailed near Town Hall on Monday evening when various groups tried to stage protest against the Union government’s restrictions on cattle slaughtering, while another group tried to perform ‘Gou Puja’ supporting the Centre’s move.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) had organised a protest in front of Town Hall at 5 pm, against the Centre’s move. The activists’ plan was to advocate ‘Our food, Our right’ and had no plans to hold ‘Beef Fest’ or cook or eat beef at the venue. It is learnt that the ACP of Halasur Gate sub-division had also given permission to hold the protest.
But on social networking platforms, an event – ‘Mooment Bengaluru - Protest and Beef Fest in front of Town Hall at 4.30 pm’ – was hosted by Varkey Parakkal and Vyshakh Thaliyil. This reportedly led to confusion that a ‘Beef Fest’ was being organised at the venue. Members of the Bharatiya Gou Parivara’s Karnataka Chapter approached the police and demanded that even they should be allowed to perform Gou Puja at the same venue, welcoming the Centre’s move and condemning the ‘Beef Fest’.
Also, BJP leaders met City Police Commissioner Praveen Sood and DCP (Central) Dr Chandragupta and requested them to cancel the permission given to SFI, DYFI and other organisations. The police, who sensed trouble, cancelled the permission given to SFI. They also denied permission to Bharatiya Gou Parivara’s Karnataka Chapter. As a precautionary measure, over 200 policemen were deployed at Town Hall.
At 4.30 pm, around 50 members of the Gou Parivara gathered and police asked them to leave as the permission was denied. This led to a heated argument. A few minutes later, members of SFI, DYFI and other organisations tried to gather in front of Town Hall through the Ravindra Kalakshetra entrance. They were nearly 150 protesters.
As members of both organisations faced off, there were chances of situation going out of control and the police detained members from both sides. Around 40 members of the Gou Parivara and around 50 of the SFI were detained and released later.
Dr Y.V. Krishnamurthy, General Secretary, Gau Parivara, said that they will protest wherever Beef Fests are organised and demanded that permission should never be given to such protests.
