The arrest of Hindu activist Srikanth Poojari in Hubballi, Karnataka, for his alleged involvement in post-Babri Masjid demolition riots has sparked protests led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sunil Kumar. As part of the campaign named “I’m also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too,” the BJP state unit staged a demonstration near the Sadashivanagar police station in Bengaluru.
Displaying a placard that read “I’m also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too,” V Sunil Kumar, a BJP leader and former minister, participated in the demonstration, asserting that he too had taken part in the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation following the Babri Mosque demolition. Kumar highlighted the timing of Poojari’s arrest, just weeks before the anticipated opening of the Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya, suggesting a political motive behind the state government’s actions.
BJP state president BY Vijayendra voiced concerns over the government’s intent, stating that reopening a three-decade-old case days before the consecration of the Ram temple raised questions about the state’s priorities.
“The campaign ‘I’m also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too’ has been launched to condemn the ‘anti-Ram and anti-Hindu policies’ of the Congress government. The Congress in Karnataka has resorted to a strategy of intimidating Karsevaks and Ram devotees,” said Kumar during the protest.
Accusing the government of selective treatment, Kumar pointed out the contrast in handling cases such as Poojari’s arrest and those related to the KJ Halli and DJ Halli riot cases. He highlighted the perceived bias in labeling Poojari as a criminal while referring to others, like the Mangaluru cooker bomb accused, as innocent.
Police officials reportedly took Kumar into preventive custody following the protest. The BJP’s “Arrest Me Too” campaign is seen as a strong response to what the party perceives as attempts to target Hindu activists and Karsevaks ahead of significant religious events.
The BJP’s demonstrations and protests extended beyond Bengaluru to Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru, reflecting a broader discontent with the perceived actions and priorities of the Karnataka government.
