The annual march past of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to mark Vijayadashami was stopped by the city police when it tried to pass through Idgah Maidan in Chamarajpet, by changing its route plan, on Sunday.
The 500-strong RSS posse began its march from the RSS head quarters at Keshava Shilpa in Chamarajpet, led by Member of Parliament (Bangalore South) Ananth Kumar and City Mayor B.S. Sathyanarayana, besides comprising a some BJP councillors.
Sensing trouble, the police put up barricades to prevent the procession from passing through the Idgah Maidan, anticipating a threat to law and order. Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Kamal Panth, who had camped in the area, directed the police to stop the procession from entering the ground.
The RSS leaders were asked by the police to stick to the route plan, which did not include the Idgah Maidan, for which permission had been granted.
But, heated arguments took place between the police and RSS leaders, who demanded that the police allow the procession to pass through the ground. “We refused to allow them on the route as they had not obtained prior permission. The Idgah road was not part of the route plan permitted by the police for the procession,” Mr. Panth said.
Speaking on the ocassion, Mr. Ananth Kumar charged the police for creating unnecessary confusion. “Idgah Maidan is BBMP property and the police is unnecessarily creating hurdles for the procession,” he said, adding that the procession was an annual affair and no untoward incident happens.
Tight security has been deployed in and around the grounds.
