Hariprasad Nandalike

Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala

Karkala, Sep 2: Karkala witnessed heightened political tension on Wednesday after Congress workers attempted to launch a sticker campaign demanding the resignation of Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar over the Parashurama Theme Park issue.

Police detained more than 20 Congress workers, including Karkala Block Congress president Shubhada Rao, before they could begin the campaign.

The Congress had announced the sticker campaign following allegations surrounding the Parashurama Theme Park. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Congress leader Shubhada Rao demanded that Sunil Kumar resign as MLA, alleging that he had installed a fake Parashurama statue. He had also announced that the sticker campaign would be launched at the grassroots level, beginning with the pasting of a sticker at the MLA's residence.

On Wednesday, Congress workers who had set out from the Karkala Congress office were stopped by police near Sarvajna Circle. More than 20 workers, including Shubhada Rao, were taken into custody.

Following the police intervention, the Congress workers sat on the road and raised slogans against the MLA. Police immediately detained the protesters and shifted them in a police vehicle to prevent the situation from escalating.

Meanwhile, anticipating the Congress campaign, more than 200 BJP workers gathered near the MLA's residence and office in support of Sunil Kumar. While around 25 Congress workers had participated in the campaign, more than 200 BJP workers assembled in support of the MLA and raised slogans against Shubhada Rao.

Speaking on the occasion, BJP leader Mutlupady Satish Shetty alleged that the Congress leaders who had planned to launch a sticker campaign at Sunil Kumar's residence were "cowardly". He claimed that no case had been registered against Sunil Kumar in connection with the Parashurama Theme Park issue and that the MLA was not an accused in the matter.

He accused Congress leaders of making false allegations and spreading misinformation, and urged the police to register suo motu cases against those allegedly spreading false news. He also warned that the BJP would give an appropriate response if such incidents were repeated.

Former Zilla Panchayat member Sumith Shetty Koudur challenged the Congress workers to put stickers at the houses of ordinary BJP workers instead of targeting the MLA's residence and office, saying they would face a fitting response.

In view of the Congress campaign, the police department had made elaborate security arrangements to prevent any untoward incidents. More than 100 police personnel were deployed near Hotel Jain at Sarvajna Circle. Security was also provided at the MLA's residence and office.

Karkala sub-divisional ASP Ishitha Gupta, Kapu circle inspector Ajmat Ali, Karkala Rural police station SI Prasanna M S, Karkala Town police station SI Shivakumar, Kapu SI Tejaswi and Padubidri SI Shakthivel led the security arrangements.

Meanwhile, BJP workers expressed their displeasure over the Congress campaign and submitted a memorandum to the Karkala ASP and tahsildar, seeking appropriate action against the Congress workers.