Demand for arrest of seer intensifies

Gita Abhiyaan: Dharnas and debates continue for and against campaign

Friday saw a series of protests, processions and debates demanding arrest of Gangadhareshwara, seer of the Sonda Swarnavalli Mahasamsthana, Sirsi, as well as the leaders of the Abhiyaan for violating prohibitory orders by undertaking a sermon at the Government Girls’ Pre-university College on Wednesday, when exams were on.

‘Police is biased’
Leaders of various associations staged a protest outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner, demanding arrest of the seer and the leaders of the Abhiyaan.

They also opposed the arrest of SFI leader Ambarish. “The police have been biased as they are delaying the arrest of the seer who violated prohibitory orders,” they alleged and said they would continue the protest till the seer is arrested.

Hundreds of students, led by the SFI, undertook a procession opposing the Abhiyaan. Starting from College Circle, the procession passed by Mekke Circle before it reached the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

SFI activists met the District In-charge Minister A Narayanaswamy and the Deputy Commissioner outside the Zilla Panchayat in the afternoon and demanded action against the seer.

Members of the Srirama Sene staged a bike rally, while BJP leaders met the District In-charge Minister at the Travellers’ Bungalow in the afternoon demanding arrest of
SFI activists.

In Malur
Members of the Students Federation of India and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) held a protest, in front of the tahsildar’s office, against the arrest of SFI district president Ambarish, for opposing the Bhagavad Gita Abhiyaan.

DYFI district secretary Sampangi said that the Abhiyaan had been organised at the government girls PU college in Kolar on Wednesday when the II PU supplementary exams were being held.

Even though prohibitory orders under Section 144 were in place for the exams, the Swarnavalli seer was conducting the Abhiyaan, along with 20 to 25 students, Sampangi said.

Ambarish and other SFI office bearers were assaulted and abused, the protesters said. A memorandum was submitted to Shirastedar Rangappa. DYFI district secretary
Muniswamy and others led the protest.

In Chikkaballapur
Activists of the Students Federation of India and the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) held a protest in the city on Friday against the ‘Bhagavad Gita Abhiyaan’ being conducted in schools and colleges.

The protestors took out a procession to the office of the deputy director of public instruction. They demanded that the Abhiyaan should be stopped and that schools and colleges should not allow it to be organised.

Munindra, district unit president of SFI said: The Abhiyaan will sow the seeds of communalism among the students. It will lead to divisions on the basis of caste and religion, besides undermining the unity of the country”.

DSS convenor K C Rajakanth said: “It is condemnable that the State government is supporting the Abhiyaan, which will communalise young minds.” DSS activists B V Anand, C G Gangappa, Thyagaraja and others were present.

In Mulbagal
Protests and counter-protests, in connection with the interruption by an SFI leader in the Bhagavad Gita Abhiyaan in Kolar, continued on Friday.

District SFI activists took out a protest rally and staged a dharna in front of the office of the district administration, opposing the arrest their president Ambarish for interrupting the Abhiyaan on Wednesday.

Vijaykumar, a dalit leader, addressing the protesters, said the Gita Abhiyaan would adversely affect the communal harmony in society. They demanded release of Ambarish immediately.

The protesters, comprising Vasudevareddy, Shivashankar, Chandrashekhar, G Kumar, G V Muniraju, P V Manjunath, M Suresh, Jabeeulla and Raghu, submitted a memorandum to Tahsildar P Jayamadhava.

Members of the BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajarang Dal staged a counter-protest at TAPCMS Circle, demanding action against the SFI members for interrupting the Abhiyaan being taken out by Sonda Swarnavalli Mutt. Vehicular movement was affected for a while as they staged a roadblock. Prasad, Attipalli Venkataravana, Harish, Venkatesh, Shyamanna, Ambarish, Bakery Venu, Upparhalli Ramappa and Nagesh Babu led the protest.Peace meeting ends in a ruckus

The peace meeting organised on Friday by Deputy Commisioner Manoj Kumar Meena for a talk regarding the protests for and against the arrest of seer Gangadhareshwara saw only confusion and had an indecisive end, as both parties were unwilling to change their stands.

BJP leader Omshakthi Chalapathi tried to interrupt the argument put forth by the leaders of various organisaations demanding arrest of the seer. He was warned by the Deputy Commissioner to hold back. When Chalapathi continued, however, Meena told him “Remain silent if you wish to participate in the meeting; if not get out.”
Angered, Chalapathi immediately walked out and shouted slogans against the Deputy Commissioner. “He is at once listening to three people speaking against the seer. But has thrown me out for objecting to this,” he explained and
accused the Deputy Commissioner of taking an unjust
measure.