Karnataka: BJP Launches Campaign To Court Arrest To Oppose Shrikanth Poojary's Police Custody

In Bengaluru, Karnataka MLA and former minister V Sunil Kumar staged a sit-in demonstration and led the campaign near the Sadashivanagar police station.

Later, the police took Karnataka MLA and former minister V Sunil Kumar into preventive custody. ( Image Source :Twitter/@karkalasunil )

Karnataka BJP launched a campaign 'I'm also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too' following the arrest of a Hindu activist in connection with a 31-year-old case related to Ram Janmabhoomi agitation. The BJP on Thursday intensified the protests with the campaign in several parts of Karnataka.

Karnataka MLA and former minister V Sunil Kumar staged a sit-in demonstration and led the campaign in Bengaluru near the Sadashivanagar police station. The BJP workers also joined him by chanting "Jai Sri Ram". Holding a placard with the message 'I'm also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too', Kumar said he too took part in the Rama temple agitation in 1992, for which he should also be arrested. Later, the police took him into preventive custody.

Earlier, the former Minister V Sunil Kumar dubbed that not only Ravan was an opponent of Ram but Siddaramaiah too was an enemy of Ram.

Carrying a placard bearing the message 'I'm also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too,' Kumar declared his participation in the 1992 Rama temple agitation and insisted on being arrested for it. Subsequently, the police took him into preventive custody.

In the district headquarters town of Shivamogga, Senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa led the protests, while in Chikkamagaluru, the demonstrations were spearheaded by C T Ravi.

While the saffron party staged a protest, the Congress government defended its actions, labeling the arrested activist Shrikanth Poojary as a criminal suspect with multiple charges.

According to Hubballi Police, Shrikanth Poojary, aged 51, has been implicated in a total of 16 cases spanning the last 31 years. Among these, he was booked in three instances related to inciting riots and inflicting harm. In addition to the accusations from 1991, he is said to have been charged with rioting in 2001 and 2014.

Poojary's friend claimed that the case filed against Poojary was based on “wrong information”.