Members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged a dharna in front of Clock Tower here on Monday to protest against the hike in the prices of petroleum products and LPG cylinders, atrocities against Dalits, and increasing instances of communalism.
Addressing the protestors, K. Shankar, president of district committee of CPI(M) said the hike in the prices of petroleum products and LPG cylinders had created a lot of hardship for common man. This hike had also led to an all-round increase in the prices of essential commodities. It would be better if the State government stepped in and reduced the taxes on petroleum products so that people could get a breather.
Incidents of atrocities against Dalits had been reported from Gadyal in Bagalkot districts recently. Here landlords and members of upper castes had boycotted the Dalits.
They should be tried under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Atrocities had also taken place against the Dalits at Kegunisi village in Belgaum district and at Aldur village in Chamrajnagar district.
Some forces were trying to create communal tension in different parts of the State with an eye on the forthcoming parliamentary elections. The government should take stern action against those trying to disturb communal harmony, Mr. Shankar said.
CPI (M) leaders Balakrishna Shetty, Vishwanath Rai, Dogu Suvarna, Vittal Poojary, Suresh Kalagar, Sanjeev Naik, and Vidyaraj were present.
