Congress members took out a six-km padayatra from Ranjadakate village to Tirthahalli town on Monday, condemning the terror unleashed by cow vigilantes in Malnad and Coastal Karnataka.
Addressing the protest meet held in Tirthahalli after the march, Kimmane Ratnakar, MLA from Tirthahalli, alleged that leaders of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar were trying to spread hatred in the name of protecting the cow.
Condemning the killing of Praveen Poojary, allegedly by activists of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike in Karjike, Udupi district, recently, he said that people belonging to backward classes, Scheduled Castes and minorities are being targeted by members of right-wing organisations. He also accused the BJP of trying to consolidate its vote bank in the name of cow protection.
Mr. Ratnakar said cow vigilantes had disturbed the peace and amity in Malnad and Coastal Karnataka regions. The leaders of BJP and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, who raised a hue and cry over the alleged raising of ‘anti-Indian Army’ slogans at a recent Amnesty International India programme, have been silent on the killing of Poojary, he said.
He also described the concern expressed by a few BJP leaders on cow vigilantism as a “sham”. The beef export from India has surged after the BJP came to power at the Centre, he added.
Relatives of Poojary, including his father Vasu Poojary, the president of the District Congress Committee, T.N. Srinivas, and others took part in the protest.
