BJP workers angry as DyCM cancels visit

Angry that Deputy chief minister R Ashoka did not visit Bethamangala as scheduled, BJP-leaning residents from the village staged a stir in front of police station on Sunday.

The village was intended to be visited in the afternoon by a team led by Ashoka and legislator Ananthkumar. Encouraged by legislator Y Sampangi, hundreds waited for their arrival.

After four hours of waiting, however, news arrived that the visit had been cancalled.

After a drought review at Bangarpet, the leaders had bypassed Bethamangala in favour of Mulbagal, after which they were scheduled to leave for Bangalore.

Claiming that they had been insulted the BJP supporters held up traffic in front of the police station for nearly an hour, and shouted slogans against Ahoka. They also warned that the protest would not be withdrawn until the leaders visited the village.

Ashoka, who had stopped for two minutes at Bethamangala, while on his way to Kolar, heard about the protest and decided to continue his proceed with his visit to Bethamangala. The protest was withdrawn shortly after.

Bethamangala Gram Panchayat president Durgaprasad, former president of KDA Munirathnam Naidu, former APMC president Dr Krishnamurthy and others were present during the stir.