The Mangaluru police successfully prevented 'Mangalore Chalo bike rally' by B Bharatiya Janata Party youth wing. A number of leaders and party workers were arrested and taken to Gorakshanath Hall at Kadri by the police during a public meeting.
Ahead of the public meeting, security had been beefed up in the city and police were checking the motorbikes entering the city by putting up barricades at main entry points from highways and prominent junctions. Traffic was affected as a result.
Though the BJP has been permitted to hold a public meeting at Nehru Maidan close to the Deputy Commissioner’s office between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m, some BJP workers had gathered in a circle from where they intend to take out a padayatra and motor bike rally. They said that they would take out a rally for about 1.5 km from Ambedkar Circle and threatened to lay siege to the DC’s office.
BJP workers assemble near the Ambedkar Circle in Mangaluru
B.S. Yeddyurappa, State president of the BJP and other senior party leaders were also in the city.
Holding motor bike rallies, padayatra and processions across Dakshina Kannda has been banned till midnight of September 8.
The rally was organised following the call given by BJP national president Amit Shah to intensify protests against the Congress government in the State. The main demand is a ban on the Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) and the People’s Front of India (PFI).
