- By Abhirupa Kundu
- Fri, 05 Jan 2024 01:19 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of Opposition of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R Ashoka was taken into preventive custody after being detained by the police on Friday. The saffron party leader along with other party workers was protesting against the Karnataka government over the arrest of Shrikant Pujari, who was apprehended for alleged involvement in the riots after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992.
"I am also a karsevak, arrest me if you want, you are arresting a poor auto-rickshaw puller, if the government wants, arrest me...I am a karsevak, former chief minister BS Yediyurappa is karsevak, PC Mohan is a karsevak. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also a karsevak. How many people can you arrest? Open all jails in Karnataka. Millions of devotees of Lord Ram are ready to protest," R Ashoka said.
#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: LoP Karnataka Legislative Assembly & BJP leader R Ashoka detained by police.
He along with party workers was protesting against the state government over the arrest of Shrikant Pujari, who was arrested for alleged involvement in the riots after… pic.twitter.com/4CJeo8HaU9
— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2024
Earlier on Thursday, BJP leader CT Ravi on Thursday staged a protest in front of the town police station against the arrest of Pujari in Karnataka's Hubballi. Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra on accused the Congress-led state government of being "anti-Hindu".
"Karnataka government is proving again and again that it is an anti-Hindu government. Yesterday in Hubballi, they reopened a 31-year-old case, and Hindu worker Srikant Poojari was arrested; we strongly condemn this," Vijayendra said.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed the opposition's allegation of hate politics in connection with the arrest of Pujari linked to the Babri Masjid riots.
"What should be done to the wrongdoers? Should we just leave them? We have told the police to dispose of old cases. No innocents have been arrested. We will proceed according to the court's direction," he said.
