Janatha Dal (secular) activists staged a demonstration in protest against the arrest of party leader H D Revanna in Bangalore. The protesters shouted slogans against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and the BJP-led state government.
Even as the activists began to form a human chain to protest the arrest of their leader, a miscreant pelted stone on a KSRTC city bus. The police had to disperse the protesters following the incident.
The protesters condemned the arrest and said the agitation against the Yeddyurappa-led Government will continue till the demands of the party leaders were met. Meanwhile, city JD (S) president Rajanna denied that his party activists were involved in stone pelting.
JD(S) workers also staged a protest opposing the hike in diesel and LPG prices near Mahatma Gandhi statue in front of the Law Courts here on Monday. The repeated hike effected on the prices of petroleum products has burdened the middle and poor class. Citizens have been left in lurch due to` 50 hike on the domestic gas cylinder and ` 3 hike on diesel. The hike in kerosene prices have also affected people below poverty line, the protesters said. Rajanna and others were present.
Vatal protest
Meanwhile, former MLA and president of Vatal party Vatal Nagaraj staged a novel protest taking a ride on a tonga from suburban bus stand to Jayachamarajendra circle. The party activists carried LPG domestic cylinders to protest the hike of Rs 50 on cylinders. Inflation is on an all time high and the hike on diesel and LPG prices would only fuel the price rise.
Common man have to bear the brunt of poor economic policies and fiscal management of governments, he alleged.
Snail’s pace of work
In a separate protest, members of Communist Party of India (marxist) staged a dharna near the railway underpass at H C Dasappa circle. The protesters condemned the slow pace of work on the widening of KRS Road and the construction of railway underpass.
The Railways and the PWD department began the work on the road nearly two years ago. But, the Road is yet to open for commuting. The closure of the road has affected the commuters as they have to take a longer route from Hunsur road, they stated. CPI(M) city secretary Somashekar led the protest.
