The Bajrang Dal puts out more ‘Savarkar Posters’ in Tumkur Karnataka, tensions rise and Congress blames the BJP for provoking disharmony.
Karnataka’s Savarkar poster row has been increasing. The Tipu vs Savarakar banner row in Shivamogga is now scattering like wildfire in nearby areas too. After the stabbing, there were clashes and fights between SDPI and RSS supporters in Shivamogga.
Karnataka police imposed section 144 in the Shivamogga clash area but Bajrang dal activists have put more Savarakar posters in the Tumakuru area of Karnataka.
Yesterday, minister K. S. Eshwarappa also backed the justice in the Savarkar versus Tipu row stating first it was Harsha in Shivamogga, then it was Praveen Kumar Nettare, both killed for involvement in Hindutva activities, and now one more stabbing incident. He said after Karnataka cops shot in the leg of one of the accused, “This is just a sample. If gangsters will not sit silently, we will make them correct.
The row started when a poster depicting ‘Hindu Rashtra’ with Veer Savarkar and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose being described as revolutionaries, was displayed in Karnataka’s Tumakuru as part of Independence Day celebrations. The poster was torn up by a group of people on Tuesday, sparking the violence.
A man named Prem Singh was stabbed in the Gandhi Bazar after two groups fought over the installation of the flex of Savarkar and 18th-century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan on Monday. A Muslim youth, Saddam Hussain Jamkhandi, was attacked on the same day Prem Singh was stabbed in Shivamogga. He was beaten up in the Gandhi Bazaar area. He had to be hospitalised but was discharged later. An FIR has also been lodged regarding the incident.
The Karnataka police on Tuesday arrested four men in connection with the stabbing that took place in the Shivamogga district on Monday. The four arrested have been identified as Nadeem (25), Abdul Rehman (25), Tanveer and Jabiullah. Jabiullah was shot in the leg while he tried to escape from the police.
The BJP and the Congress in Karnataka have locked horns, each accusing the other of the violence over posters of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Tipu Sultan at Ameer Ahmed circle of Shivamogga on Independence Day.
BJP MLA KS Eshwarappa said: “Not only in Shivamogga not only in the South across the country, but Congress is also supporting anti-national outfits like PFI and SDPI.”
Shri Ram Sene leader Pramod Muthalik said: “India has 100 crores Savarkars and each one will fight the PFI and SDPI. I dare the PFI and SDPI to touch me if they have the guts.”
BJP MLA and Karnataka CM’s political secretary changed his Facebook display picture to read: “I am also Savarkar.”
Earlier, Congress alleged that the poster of Savarkar was put up only to incite communal tension. Karnataka Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah said: “Why did they put Savarakar’s photo in a Muslim area and remove Tipu Sultan’s portrait? BJP is doing double standard politics.”
Congress corporator Mehak Sharif’s husband, Sharif, has been arrested in connection with the violence in Karnataka. “My husband was at the mall on August 13. He saw posters of Gandhi, Nehru, and Ambedkar in the corner. He asked why such big posters of Savarkar had been put up in the middle. It’s his right to ask,” she said. “We have no connection with the SDPI or the PFI,” she added.
Meanwhile, police have been deployed and CCTV cameras are being monitored to make sure there are no untoward incidents.