Davangere South bypoll: Muslims protest denial of Congress ticket to community

Davanagere: The Congress party’s decision to field late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson Samarth Mallikarjun in the byelection to the Davanagere South Assembly seat has not gone down well with the Muslim community in Davanagere.

On Sunday, a group of Muslim youngsters, which included Congress members, descended on Akthar Raza Circle, where they held black flags and placards and expressed their ire at the Congress leadership for snubbing the community.

The agitators raised slogans condemning AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president D K Shivakumar. Holding aloft banners that read ‘Justice for Muslims’, the protesters sought to remind the Congress of the Muslim community’s unstinting support for the party over the years.

“For years, the Muslim community has helped ensure Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s win in Davanagere South. The Congress had promised the byelection ticket to a Muslim candidate, but the party has betrayed the community. This time, we will pledge our support to some other party and will not vote for the Congress,” said Congress functionary Mansoor Ali.

“Some of them are saying that Muslims will sell their vote for Rs 500 or Rs 1,000. Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan too has been insulted by the party. Self-respecting Muslims must not cast their vote for the Congress,” Ali added.