Pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj detained during protest, accuses cops of displaying ‘goondagiri'
Bengaluru: The protest staged outside the Town Hall as a part of the Karnataka Bandh on Saturday gave rise to ruckus as police personnel intercepted the protesters, including veteran pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj and film producer Sa Ra Govindu, and took them to Freedom Park.
A 12-hour statewide bandh was held on Saturday, in objection to the recent attack on a bus driver and conductor in Belagavi by a Marathi group for not knowing Marathi. The protest was held with the objective of ‘upholding pride in being a Kannadiga’.
Nagaraj, Govindu and the other protesters shouted slogans against the state government as well as the Police Department. In addition, Nagaraj reportedly planned to start a rally from Town Hall, when a group of 100 police personnel, including the Bengaluru police's kabaddi team, intercepted the protesters and took them to Freedom Park.
The protesters expressed their support for 75-year-old Nagaraj, who is known for his vehement stand in favour of Kannada, by shouting their slogans louder when he arrived at the protest venue.
The police, however, took action against the activist as he stepped out of his car, detaining him and led him to a BMTC bus meant to transport the protesters.
Enraged by the police detention, Nagaraj accused the police of indulging in ‘goodagiri’ and said that he had never been treated so brutally by the police during his participation in protests. He also raised objection to being issued notices by alleging that they were attempts to silence the protesters.
Further, the activist slammed ministers Lakshmi Hebbalkar and Satish Jarkiholi, who are legislators from Belagavi, for their lack of support to the protesters and also called them ‘Marathi agents’.
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'I go to Parliament to create impact, not ruckus': Raghav Chadha rubbishes AAP's allegations
New Delhi (PTI): "I go to Parliament to create impact, not ruckus," said Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Saturday as he rejected allegations levelled against him by the Aam Aadmi Party, calling them "false" and part of a "coordinated campaign".
In a video, Chadha dismissed claims that he did not join opposition walkouts, terming the charge a "blatant lie".
He challenged his detractors to cite even a single instance where he failed to participate and said parliamentary proceedings are recorded through CCTV cameras.
Refuting another allegation that he refused to sign a motion related to the Chief Election Commissioner, Chadha said no party leader had asked him, either formally or informally, to sign it. He added that several other MPs from his party had also not signed the motion.
The MP said his focus in Parliament has been on raising public issues such as GST, income tax, air pollution in Delhi, water concerns in Punjab, public healthcare, education, railway passenger issues, menstrual health, unemployment and inflation.
Chadha said that he goes to Parliament to "create impact not ruckus" as it runs on taxpayers' money and it is his responsibility to highlight their concerns. "Every lie will be exposed," he said.
