Condemning the arrest of journalist Santhosh Thammaiah, activisits of BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishat, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagarana Vedike staged a protest in Madikeri on Wednesday.
Gathering at General Thimmaiah Circle in Madikeri , the protesters shouted slogans and vented their ire against the state government.
Speaking on the occasion, leader Vinay dared the police to arrest other four speakers who delivered speeches at the same programme in which Santhosh Thamaiah took part.
A person from Madapura has posted derogatory post on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and he should be arrested within 24 hours, he said.
BJP state secretary Manu Muttappa said that the arresting of Santhosh Thammaiah, only because he was a Sangh Parivar activist, is unpardonable. "Thammaiah spoke against Tipu Jayanthi which is observed only to appease the minority. In Napoklu, a person from Muslim community has spoken ill about Hindu religion, on social media. A complaint has been registered against him. He should be subject to a detailed inquiry."
BJP leader Ballaranda Mani Uttappa said that the state government has murdered democracy by arresting a journalist.
A protest was also staged in Kushalnagar, condemning the arrest of Santhosh Thammaiah.
BJP members and activists of various Hindu outfits gathered near Anjaneya Temple in Car Street and took out a protest march to Field Marshal Cariappa Circle. Later, they shouted slogans against the state government and the police.
District BJP president B B Bharatish said that the state government is suppressing the Hindu community, in a bid to appease the minority. The arrest of journalist Santhosh Thammaiah is part of a conspiracy. By arresting Thammaiah, the government has snatched the right to speech and expression. While the police department follows an indifference attitude to initiate action against those who speak ill about Hindu deities.
BJP district general secretary Robin Devaiah said that arresting Santhosh Thammaiah during midnight is condemnable.
The protestors blocked the road by forming a human chain at Field Marshal Cariappa Circle.
Derogatory remarks
BJP, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Jagarana Vedike activists staged protest in Madikeri and Virajpet and urged to arrest those who have posted a derogatory posts on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on social media.
BJP district president set a deadline for the state government to arrest the person belonging to Madapur in Somwarpet who has written ill about the PM on a social networking site. If not arrested within 24 hours, the protest will be intensified, he added.