Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president Kodihalli Chandrashekar has said that the sangha will launch a dharna outside Home Minister G. Parameshwara’s residence if the State government does not release those arrested from Navalgund and Nargund taluks during the Mahadayi protests, by August 5.
Addressing presspersons here on Monday, he condemned the use of force on women and senior citizens and the arrest of innocent persons following the protests in Dharwad and Gadag districts after the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal rejected Karnataka’s plea.
He urged the government to order a judicial inquiry into the atrocities against farmers, women and senior citizens in villages in Navalgund taluk.
“If the Home Minister does not respond to our demands even after we stage a dharna outside his residence, we will start a ‘padayatra’ from Tiptur in Tumakuru district to Bengaluru from August 10. On reaching Bengaluru on August 15, we will observe a ‘Black Day’,” he said.
Mr. Chandrashekar said that the attack on innocent persons was carried out to mislead the Mahadayi agitation. He said there was a larger conspiracy behind the incident that involved both the Congress and the BJP and the government should clarify under whose direction the assault was carried out.
He said the State government should initiate action against higher officials in the Police Department and not make junior officials scapegoats. To a query, he said complaints would be filed before the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission and legal options would be explored too if needed.
