BJP protest, Dalit counter-protest over Ganesha procession remarks rock T. Narsipur

Tension prevailed in T. Narsipur town near Mysuru on Sunday as BJP leaders and supporters staged a protest against the town police inspector's remarks made during a peace meeting ahead of the Ganesha procession, even as Dalit organisations held a counter-protest against former MP Pratap Simha over his alleged remarks fomenting communal trouble.

Superintendent of Mysuru district police Mallikarjuna Baladandi, who visited the town to supervise security arrangements, said additional forces had been deployed to maintain law and order in view of the protests.

The controversy stemmed from town police inspector Dhananjaya's reported warning to processionists against bursting crackers in front of a mosque on Link Road. The remarks drew a strong response from the BJP, with Mr. Simha allegedly threatening to storm the police station in protest.

As BJP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok and Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, made their way to the town, a group of Dalit activists sporting Jai Bheem flags and blue shawls gathered near the police station and shouted slogans against Mr. Simha. The activists accused the former MP of deliberately spreading communal poison in T. Narsipur through his allegedly inflammatory statements. Police managed to swiftly disperse them.

Meanwhile, BJP supporters gathered in the town and raised slogans in support of Mr. Simha and against the police inspector. Mr. Ashok, addressing the large gathering, criticised the Congress government for imposing restrictions on Ganesha festival celebrations in different parts of the State and sought action against the police inspector for threatening groups celebrating the festival. Mr. Simha also addressed the crowd.

Police later arrested BJP leaders, including Mr. Ashok, who were subsequently released.

Mr. Baladandi said the police inspector had convened a peace meeting on September 7 and asked various groups installing Ganesha idols to inform the police about the date of immersion to ensure proper security arrangements along the route. As one group had taken out a procession without intimating the police last year, no security could be provided for it, and it also passed through a mosque. Hence, the inspector asked the group not to take out the procession unilaterally without informing the police.

He noted that about 15 to 20 Ganesha pandals are put up in T. Narsipur town every year and that there is no restriction on the processions, which can be taken out on the same route this year as well. The police have imposed no restrictions, he clarified.

Mr. Baladandi regretted that the police inspector's statement was being portrayed in a "different" manner on social media. He said necessary instructions had been issued to police officials against issuing statements that could create confusion in the minds of the public.