Bagalkot (Karnataka), March 31 Amid the campaigning for the by-election, BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra visited and consoled the parents of those arrested in connection with the stone-pelting and violence that occurred during the Shivaji Jayanti procession last month in Killagalli, Bagalkot, Karnataka.
Later, Vijayendra visited Ashok Baraker, who was injured in the incident and is receiving treatment at a private hospital. Vijayendra assured all possible help and wished him a speedy recovery.
He accused the Karnataka government of focusing solely on appeasing its voter base, and that the BJP would always stand in support of the people.
On this occasion, district president Shantagouda Patil, MLAs Shailendra Beldale, P.H. Poojar, Hanumant Nirani, former MLAs M.D. Lakshminarayana and Arun Shahapur, state party secretary Sharanu Tallikeri, along with other leaders and party members, were present.
It may be recalled that stone-pelting occurred during a Shivaji Jayanti procession in Bagalkot, Karnataka, on February 19 this year, near Panka Masjid, resulting in minor injuries to Superintendent of Police (SP) Siddharth Goyal and another officer.
Eight people were arrested, and prohibitory orders under Section 163 (BNSS) were imposed until February 24 to manage tensions.
The incident was reported from the Killa Oni area when the procession was passing in front of a mosque. In the wake of the incident, police had clamped prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in Old Bagalkot, Navanagar and Vidyagiri localities.
The Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, charged that the state government had alleged, “There is growing suspicion among the people of the state that Hindu religious practices are being restricted under the rule of the anti-Hindu government.”
“Stone pelting during Ganesh processions, stone pelting on Hanuma Mala devotees, obstruction to Navaratri processions, objections against Ayyappa Mala devotees, stone pelting on the Om Shakti Peetha palanquin procession were reported and now, fanatical miscreants have pelted stones at the Shivaji procession in Bagalkot,” he had stated.