BJP seeks CRPF protection to Sumalatha, Yash & Darshan

As the war for Mandya hots up, the BJP, which has set its eyes on the Lok Sabha constituency by backing Independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh, is taking every opportunity to make her opponent, JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy's path tougher.

Seconding her claims of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy misusing the government machinery to spy on her, the saffron party has now sought the Centre's intervention.

The party's state general secretary, Arvind Limbavali has written to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh urging him to provide Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) protection to Sumalatha, her son Abhishek and actors Yash and Darshan, who are supporting her in the wake of "violent actions" against them.

Limbavali has said that Kumaraswamy had resorted to intimidation tactics against Sumalatha as she was contesting against his son Nikhil.

The JD(S) and Congress "goons" had attacked actor Darshan's house, and had also cut off cable network in Mandya on the day Sumalatha filed her nomination papers, he has said.

Limbavali has also cited that the JD(S) and Congress leaders were abusing Sumalatha and both the actors and instigating its workers through social media networks.

"Sumalatha has complained to the Election Commission that the Chief Minister is abusing the official machinery to tap her phone and spy on her. She has also complained that the coalition government has deployed intelligence and police officers near her office for over a month. There are also instances of information gathering from her security guards, and attempt to photograph people visiting her house. In the wake of these incidents I request you to ensure adequate security by CRPF and provide protection to her and her son and actors Yash and Darshan," the letter states.