India - Karnataka: RSS activists' bid to enter Idgah stirs tension

Deccan Herald

RSS activists' bid to enter Idgah stirs tension
Bangalore: Oct 20, 2013 DHNS

RSS activists near the Idgah Maidan in Chamarajpet on Sunday. dh Photo

Tension prevailed in Chamarajpet here on Sunday morning when activists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attempted to enter the Idgah ground “without the necessary permission”, during their annual Vijayadashami pathasanchalana (march-past).

As the RSS activists, led by Bangalore South MP and BJP National General Secretary, H N Ananth Kumar, marched into the area near the Idgah, they attempted to enter the ground, saying they would hold the valedictory function of the ‘pathasanchalana’. The police, however, barricaded the ground and refused to let the RSS activists in, saying they did not have the necessary permission.

A verbal duel ensued between Sangh activists and police officers present on the spot. The police contended that march-past could not be allowed at the ground as it would be a “deviation” from the approved route.

Kumar, however, argued that the procession had been taken into the ground for many years before and “no special permission was needed” to hold the valedictory function as the place belonged to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

A group of activists refused to heed the police advice and barged into the ground, marching around. Police personnel then rushed to them and chased them away from the ground. The activists later conducted a function and hoisted the flag on the road adjoining the ground.
Senior BJP leader asserted that the State government had “instigated” the police to block the march-past for its “petty political gains”.

Kamal Pant, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), who led the police force at the spot, said the RSS had sought permission to hold the valedictory function of their Vijayadashami procession at Idgah ground. Police, however, turned it down as they had not been authorised by the BBMP.

Thereafter, the Sangh did not move a fresh application, and hence was denied entry into the ground, Pant added. When asked whether law and order was also an issue, he affirmed the City police were worried about it.

Mayor B S Katte Satyanarayana himself took part in the march-past. When contacted, he claimed that no written permission was required from the BBMP and hence it was not given.
The RSS held these marches at 16 places in the City on Sunday and none of them had any written permission from the BBMP, he added.

When asked about congregation at a ground, Satyanarayana said that no permission was needed for ‘pathasanchalana’ as “it did not involve any speeches or public gathering”.