Bengaluru, (DHNS): Hundreds of BJP workers, led by MP Shobha Karandlaje, were detained by the police as the saffron party staged a protest at Mysore Bank circle here against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's "terrorists" remark.

This was part of the BJP's #ArrestMeSiddaramaiah campaign, in response to the chief minister's comment earlier this week in which he likened the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the BJP's ideological parent, and Bajrang Dal to terrorists. The #ArrestMeSiddaramaiah hashtag was trending on Twitter nationally earlier in the week, with the BJP leaders and supporters tweeting the hashtag to condemn Siddaramaiah's remarks. Vehicular movement on the Kempegowda Road was affected for some time because of the protest.

The BJP workers shouted slogans, accusing Siddaramaiah of indulging in vote bank politics. Shobha demanded an apology from Siddaramaiah.

The BJP's protest also coincided with the murder of notorious 'Ullal Target Group' leader Ilyas, days after he was linked to the murder of Sangh Parivar activist Deepak Rao. "The state government is disrupting law and order by getting Hindus and Muslims to fight each other. Revenge begets revenge and the government is encouraging this. Instead of arresting the culprits, the government is engaged in a well-planned conspiracy," she charged.