BENGALURU: The two major parties in the state — Congress and BJP — are headed for a showdown on Thursday over Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary celebrations. While the government has decided to go ahead with the celebrations for the second year in a row, the BJP is going ahead with a statewide stir, notably in Bengaluru, Kodagu and Chitradurga where protests are expected to be intense.
The celebrations last year saw two deaths. This year also could see confrontations as the CM fired a salvo first thing on Wednesday morning. Ridiculing B S Yeddyurappa, who has been spearheading the protest against the celebrations, Siddaramaiah said the state BJP president was a pseudo politician and should remember how he celebrated Tipu when he was in the KJP.
Both Siddaramaiah and Yeddyurappa held each other responsible for any violence that may occur. BJP is holding a massive protest at Town Hall in Bengaluru on Thursday morning and workers being encouraged to go on ‘jail bharo’ and wave black flags.
Home Minister Parameshwara is leaving no stone unturned with the security preparations. By Wednesday, 30 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), 20 platoons of City Armed Reserve (CAR) along with a platoon of Rapid Action Force were kept ready to be deployed.
The new Hoysala and other patrolling vehicles have been asked to keep an eye on the developments. Sensitive zones in the city have also been marked and more police have been deployed in those places. Police also have been deployed in the entry and exit points of the city to ensure no anti-social elements enter the city.
Senior officials of the respective divisions have been cautioned that strict action will be taken against them in case of any lapses on their part. The rank and file have been told not to go on leave or take weekly offs. Police officials working in non-executive posts including special wings of the CCB and special branch have also been pressed into service.