Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Mar 6: The city was painted saffron as BJP's Mangaluru Chalo 'Jana Surakash Yatra' reached its culmination with a procession from Dr Ambedkar circle to Nehru Maidan here on Tuesday March 6.
One leg of the rally led by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and Mysuru MP Pratap Simha arrived from Kushalnagar, while union minister Ananth Kumar Hegde and MP Shobha Karandlaje led the rally that arrived from Ankola. The rallies were flagged off in these two places on March 3 and travelled their way to Mangaluru, with public programmes in various places along the route over the past three days.
Both legs of the rallies converged at Dr Ambedkar circle and proceeded to Nehru Maidan.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who specially came to Mangaluru only to attend the rally, began his speech by greeting the gathering in Kannada and paying respects to Goddesses Mangaladevi and Durgaparameshwari. In his brief address, he called upon the people to follow the example of northeastern states and make Karnataka free of Congress.
"I am very happy to meet and speak to the people of Mangaluru. The Jana Suraksha Yatra has created a new atmosphere of security in Karnataka. I congratulate the state leadership on this.
"You have seen the results of the recent elections in northeast. In Nagaland Congress got zero seats. In other northeast states BJP came to power with the support of allies. So Karnataka too should be made Congress-mukt (free). Congress in itself has become a problem for the people of the country. People are fed up with Congress and they are choosing BJP in every state.
"There is a major problem of safety and security in Karnataka and only BJP can solve this. Prime Minister Modi is taking the country in the path of development and giving good governance. Already 22 states are ruled by the BJP, this is a testimony to our development agenda. Development is most important for the future of people. And when development goes hand in hand with security, people are assured of a bright future," he said.
"However, in Karnataka there is a major problem of both security and development. When BJP workers themselves are not feeling secure here, what about the common man? I have been told that 23 murders have happened here, committed by Jihadi anti-social elements under the protection of the Congress government. The fact that Congress has withdrawn all cases against the Jihadi elements proves that something is fishy.
"Karnataka has become the ATM of Congress. Whenever they need money, they announce a new project to loot public's money. Where does all the money go? People need to realise this. Why are women and government officials living in fear here? Why are so many farmers committing suicide here? Only the BJP can solve all these problems. BJP has never divided the people. We uphold unity and Jana Suraksha Yatra is a proof of this.
"You (Congress) speak of Uttar Pradesh. Let me tell you, we have waived farmer loans worth Rs 8,000 crore, and we did not ask any money from the centre for that. We did it with our own money, by adopting austerity measures. Karnataka government has done nothing for farmers, because of which they are committing suicide. Karnataka government has a secret pact with the PFI and anti-social forces. The Congress government is not interested in taking action against them.
"When we came to power in UP, we promised to free the state from crime and corruption, and we did it in 11 months. In UP criminals in jail fear coming out on bail, but here they are holding processions. Big businesses have come to UP to invest. Even Congress could have done the same in Karnataka, but it did not. The situation is grave here and youths have no security.
"I have come to warn the people - Congress is anti-farmer, anti-Hindu, and a supporter of PFI. People of Karnataka should join BJP in its Jana Suraksha campaign," he urged.
"Jana Suraksha Yatra is here to offer a corrpution-free and crime-free government. We will free Karnataka from Jihadi elements that Congress is supporting. We will take the state in the path of development in accordance with Modi's call for 'sabka saath sabka vikas'. BJP will root out the Jihadi elements that are hindering the growth of Karnataka and which are responsible for the deaths of BJP workers. We will bring happiness in the lives of farmers who are suffering under the Congress government.
"Karnataka will become Congress-mukt, BJP will come to power," Yogi Adityanath declared.
Union minister Ananth Kumar Hegde said, "Today one thing is sure. Yogi comes here, and Siddaramaiah goes out.
We have been tolerating Congress, Siddaramaiah and the communal state government for so many years, but not anymore. Next we will launch Bengaluru Chalo campaign. We will campaign till Congress is rooted out. It was Congress which divided the nation, it is the Congress which insulted Ambedkar, it is the Congress which wants to take control of Maths and tempes. I want to ask the CM - do you have guts to do that? If you have guts, do it - we will give you fitting reply."
Addressing himself to CM Siddaramaiah, he said, "Are you not ashamed? To appease the 15 perecnt minorities, you are going against the 85 percent Hindus. So many government officials have committed suicide or resigned - are you not ashamed? So many murders never took place under any government. I am not saying this - this is proved in the statistics released by your home minister."
Hegde then read out the number of robberies, rapes, murders and other crimes from the data released by the state home minister, while deftly leaving out the corresponding numbers during BJP's tenure.
He further added, "Everyone says when Ananth Kumar Hegde speaks, he crosses all limits. I say today, my language is fit for your (Siddaramaiah) mentality and deeds. You are not worth saying good words. Siddaramaiah is a big tragedy for Karnataka. He has made our state like a hell. Criminals are enjoying under his rule.
"Siddaramaiah has no time to visit Hindu activists killed by Jihadis. But he is roaming with members of PFI and SDPI. It looks like terrorist Yasin Bhatkal is Siddaramaiah's cousin," he said, adding, "We do not have fear of losing our life. We will struggle till this government is thrown out."
BJP state president Yeddyurappa said, "BJP will not allow the blood of slain Hindu activists go waste. Six-and-a-half crore people of Karnataka are ready to throw out the Congress government. They are all fed up with the current government.
"I promise to provide good administration in the state, for which I need people's support. Just be patient for another 60 days, after that I will withdraw all the cases booked against our members," he said.
"We have to ban PFI and Congress party's goonda raj. We are able to give good governance like in UP under Yogi's leadership. We will provide justice to Hindu youths who have lost their lives. We need an NIA office in this region. We have to punish the killers of our youths," he said.
MP Pratap Simha said, "I used to come to Mangaluru to catch a bus from Hampankatta to Konaje during my college days. It is heartenning to get an opportunity to speak in Mangaluru. I thank the coastal region for the education I obtained here.
"You may wonder what was the need for organizing Jana Suraksha Yatra now. Let me explain. In 2011 KFD and PFI activists incited communal violence in Mysuru, which soon spread to Shivamogga and other parts of the state. As many as 1,700 SDPI, PFI and KFD activists were booked and more than 175 cases were registered. But instead of taking action, the Siddaramaiah government in 2015 withdrew all the cases and made a great favour to these anti-national elements.
"Raju was murdered, Rudresh was murdered, Praveen Poojary was killed and many more Hindu youths were done to death. When Sharath Madivala was murdered, we held a Mangaluru Chalo rally, today we are doing it again because 23 Hindus have been murdered in the last two years, and we want this to stop. We are pained by these murders.
"Today Siddaramaiah has become one of the main sponsors of crime. Coastal region is known for the bravery of Rani Abbakka. But nowadays it is known for the Jihadi groups which are functioning from neighboring Kerala. They are trying to convert the coastal region into another Kashmir where there is no freedom for Hindus," he said.
Taking a dig at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, he said, "After the drubbing in northeast elections, Rahul Gandhi went to Italy to visit his grandmother. We invite him to visit Karnataka, so that after the state elections, he can visit his aunt in Italy. We will also send Siddaramaiah home."
Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar said, "Siddaramaiah has lost control over his administration. Bengaluru has become a crime city. Siddarmaiah has put up hoardings in Bengaluru saying Karnataka is number one in IT and investments. But that is not true. Karnataka has become number one in robberies, thefts, rape, corruption, farmer suicides and murders of Hindus. It has been two years since the murder of M M Kalburgi but even today the government has no clue of the killers. Same is the case with Gauri Lankesh murder.
"Congress government is indulging in goondaism. The recent incident where Congress MLA N A Haris' son assaulted a man is an example. Fearing defeat in elections, Congress MLAs have started to woo voters by distributing sarees, watches etc. But while people are being given watches worth Rs 2, the chief minister is wearing a watch costing Rs 70 lac.
"Siddaramaiah is the only chief minister who is running the government through advertisements. It is an advertising government. Siddaramaiah will be the last CM from Congress. Congress will never come to power in the state again," he said.
"After becoming president of Congress, Rahul Gandhi faced a major defeat in northeast polls, next will be Karnataka," he added.
Will show our power if Kalladka Bhat is arrested: Sriramulu warns Ramanath Rai
In a fiery speech, Sriramulu challenged district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai to arrest RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat and said that once the BJP comes to power in the state, all cases will be dropped against Hindu activists.
"The Siddaramaiah government is functioning with the sole agenda of crushing Hindu activists. It is my earnest request to Yeddyurappa that when he becomes the CM, he should prepare a list of the names of those who attacked the Hindu activists, those who supported the killers and all officials who followed the orders of the Congress to crush our activists, and punish them without mercy. They should be sent to jail without any delay.
"I challenge Ramanath Rai to arrest Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat. If you have guts, let's see how you even touch him. We will show you our power. Our members will pull you out from wherever you are, no matter if you are in cabinet meeting or inside the Assembly. Our Hindu activists will reach there," he threatened.
MPs Nalin Kumar Kateel and Shobha Karandlaje also spoke.
Prior to the programme, a minute's silence was observed for Hindu youths who were murdered in the state.
Tight security was deployed in the entire city to prevent untoward incidents, especially along the rally route. The police commissionerate made all arrangements to prevent traffic incovenience.
Among the other BJP leaders present were MLAs C T Ravi, S Angara and Sunil Kumar, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, Halady Srinivas Shetty, and others.