Mangaluru (TOI) Dakshina Kannada district unit of the BJP has called off its proposed protest in the Town Hall premises on Tuesday. BJP had given a call for the protest over the October 9 murder of Hindu right wing activist Prashanth Poojary in Moodbidri, seeking arrest of the accused before October 19. The decision to call off the protest follows the announcement of arrest of four persons by city police chief S Murugan on Sunday with broad hints of further arrests in the days ahead.
Pratapsimha Nayak, president of district unit of BJP said the decision is also in line with an appeal made by Murugan that all stakeholders give up any agitation over the issue as the police is well on track with the investigations. "We respect the police and also urge them to proceed with the case overlooking all pressures that may be brought on them," he said. "If people have lost faith in the department, it is because of the tendency to succumb to pressure," he added.
"Society will not accept any murder that has been committed to silence people for their beliefs and stand on issues," he said, adding the party is committed to assisting the police department and district administration in maintaining law and order. Demanding that police continue their probe into the incident fearlessly, Pratapsimha said it is also imperative that the police get to the roots of the murder and also nab those who helped plan, finance and execute the same.
Lambasting the state government for its duality in dealing with such incidents, Pratapsimha said it is the government's discriminatory nature in dealing with the people of different religious communities that is leading to unrest and disquiet in society. Pointing to the move by the government to provide compensation of Rs 10 lakh to a cattle thief killed in firing by ANF personnel, he said by the same yardstick the government should have provided compensation to Prashanth's family as well.
The party will decide on its future course of action on the Prashanth murder issue by continuously following up on the progress of the investigation, he said, adding it is highly regrettable that the state government is not willing to act on any issue on its own until and unless there is perceptible public pressure on it. He again targeted the ministers from the district for not even showing the basic courtesy of visiting the slain activist's family and consoling them.
