The row over Tipu Sultan refuses to budge. After days of protest against the government’s decision to celebrate Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary followed by the death of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad worker, the Bajrang Dal and VHP has now called for a bandh in Mangalore. Owing to the bandh all the towns and markets sported a deserted look.
Vehicles including buses and auto rickshaws are off the roads, the streets were almost empty and schools and colleges have been given holidays.
The call for bandh was given after a youth named Harish was stabbed to death near BC Road on the night of Thursday, and also to protest against the death of a VHP leader in Madikeri during Tipu Jayanti celebrations.
With section 144 being enforced for three days, only some private vehicles are moving around and this is had affected the general public.
With the auto rickshaw protest, people now are compelled to walk to their destinations as public transport is not available.
There have been minor incidents like burning of tyres at Bikkarnakatte, Padua, and Ullal.
Tight security is in place as police vehicles have been moving around the city, warning the people through the public address system mounted on vehicles not to form crowds or take out demonstrations.
Speaking to the media, Union Minister for Urban development, Venkaiah Naidu said that there have been 2 views on #TipuSultan and so there can be peaceful debate without involving the government.
The controversy has snowballed and and VHP workers are protesting across Karnataka. VHP has now called for a state wide bandh. The workers also shouted slogans of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ and burnt effigies of Karnataka CM outside Townhall in Bengaluru.
