The public meeting by BJP-backed Rashtriya Suraksha Janandolana Samiti to protest against the February 10 stone-pelting incidents outside the Udayagiri police station in Mysuru passed off peacefully on Monday after the city police modified its prohibitory orders in the wake of the conditional permission given to the samiti by the Karnataka High Court.
Earlier in the day, the city police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Act 2023, across the city after denying permission to the samiti to take out a ‘Mysuru chalo’ rally from Gun House circle to Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple.
Police permission had been denied to Dalit Mahasabha and Mysuru District Youth Congress, which planned a counter-protest along the same route on Monday against the “efforts of the BJP to incite violence for political gains”.
A large number of police personnel were deployed around Gun House circle and the route to Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple. Security was beefed up in sensitive areas while check-points were set up at various entry points to the city.
BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra and leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok, Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, former MP Prathap Simha and former Minister N. Mahesh were among the BJP leaders, who had gathered at a hotel just outside Mysuru while awaiting permission from the High Court.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Ashok hit out at the Congress government for protecting the “fanatic Muslims” who had pelted stones at the Udayagiri police station.
He accused the State government of appeasing the Muslims for the sake of vote-bank politics. However, Mr. Ashok left for Bengaluru before the High Court granted conditional permission for the public meeting.
Meanwhile, the city police modified its prohibitory orders after the High Court permitted the BJP-backed samiti to hold its public meeting from 3.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at a football ground adjacent to Maharaja’s College by imposing certain conditions.
The conditions included a warning against making provocative speeches or hurting religious sentiments of any groups. No permission was given for a rally while it was made clear that the organisers would be held responsible for any untoward incident taking place during the public meeting. The other conditions included video-recording of the entire public meeting and furnishing of a security bond for ₹1 lakh.
During the public meeting held at the football ground of Monday evening, Mr. Mahesh said the BJP respected the Constitution and was holding the public meeting only after securing permission from the court.
While criticising the pelting of stones at the Udayagiri police station, Mr. Mahesh urged the police to take action against the wrongdoers.
Representatives of the Rashtriya Suraksha Janandolana Samthi also addressed the gathering while Mr. Yaduveer Wadiyar, Mr. Simha, Krishnaraja MLA Srivatsa and Mysuru city BJP president L. Nagendra were also present.
