Members of the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district units of the Communist Party of India (CPI) staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here on Friday condemning the BJP Government for arresting Vittala Malekudiya, a postgraduate student of Mass Communication and Journalism of Mangalore University, for alleged links with Maoists.
B.V. Kakkillaya, former MLA and a senior party leader and freedom fighter, who addressed the gathering, said the Government should release the student, along with his father, Linganna Malekudiya, immediately and ensure that his education was continued.
Party member B.K. Krishnappa said the BJP Government had no right to arrest anyone for alleged links with the Maoists until it was proved because the Government itself had so many ministers who had been accused of various scams.
P. Sanjeev, party leader, said the Government was calling anyone who raised his voice against it as a Naxalite. It was not correct.
