Bengaluru: “If BJP comes back to power in 2018 Assembly elections, the first thing it will do is to scrap the government notification to celebrate Tipu Jayanthi as government-sponsored function", said Mr Pratap Simha, Lok Sabha member from Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency.
Talking to Deccan Chronicle here on Wednesday, Mr Simha held the Kodagu district administration and police department responsible for its failure to check the entry of miscreants from neighboring districts on November 10, the day of Tipu Jayanthi celebrations. “All of a sudden, scores of people came in 50-60 vehicles and started attacking around 200 BJP activists gathered at Gen Thimmaiah Circle to stage a protest peacefully. The local BJP unit had given a call to observe bundh and to stage a protest.
The police were caught off guard and did nothing to prevent the attacks on BJP activists. We had alerted local police about the possible entry of miscreants from neighboring districts to create law and order problem but they did not take precautions like frisking at all entry points to Madikeri City" he alleged.
The MP said it looked as if the miscreants had the support of the state government to unleash terror on BJP activists. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, instead of directing the local police to take strict action against the culprits, issued a statement that Mr Kuttappa died after falling into a deep ditch.
The police refused to allow BJP activists to take out a protest rally, but allowed anti-BJP persons to march from the circle. The CM owes an explanation to the people about how many miscreants had been arrested so far and the total number of vehicles used by them to come to Madikeri. This showed the government's design to snub the voice of opposition.
Mr Simha categorically said as long as he was Lok Sabha of Mysuru-Kodagu constituency, he would not allow celebrations of Tipu Jayanthi in the entire Kodagu district.
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