1. BJP leaders court arrest in Hubballi over action against Hindutva activist accused in 1992 post-Babri riots
BJP leaders held protests in Bengaluru and elsewhere in Karnataka against the arrest of Srikanth Poojari, a Hindutva activist accused in the anti-Muslim riots which followed the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. Protesting in Hubballi, Leader of Opposition R. Ashok and his deputy Arvind Bellad, a few legislators and scores of others courted arrest on January 3. They accused the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of taking appeasement politics to the highest level by arresting a ‘Ram bhakt’.
Karnataka BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra and others also staged a demonstration at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah yet again issued a statement this morning reiterating that the arrest is part of a drive against several old cases and was being given a communal colour by the BJP.
