Addressing a media persons in the city, SDPI district secretary Riyaz Farangipete said that instead of taking action against those who pelted stones at SDPI actisits on November 12 at BC Road, police are targeting peaceful demonstrators, bowing down to the pressure of Sangh Parivar and district-in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai.

He claimed that SDPI activists had obtained “oral permission” from police department before staging a small demonstration at BC Road to register protest against the violence unleashed by Sangh Parivar activists in Madikeri during birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan.

“Unlike the claims of police, no one delivered provocative speech in the protest. It was a small protest meet before submitting memorandum to tahsildar. We neither used loudspeaker nor any banner during the protest. One of the protesters was reading out the memorandum when Sangh Parivar activists pelted stones,” he said.

“It was not a protest without permission. Now police are making false allegations. In fact police had tightened the security in the area,” he said.

He lamented that innocent protesters were booked under IPC sections 307, 120B and 353, while those who triggered violence by pelting stones are wandering freely.

Accusing Ramanath Rai of being “anti-minority”, he said that SDPI activists are being targeted by the minister for political reasons.

“Despite knowing the fact that SPDI is a political party, Mr Rai has dubbed it a communal outfit. Through is hate-politics against SDPI, he is indirectly targeting minorities,” he said accusing him exerting pressure on police to book false case against SDPI activists.

He also said that the police have arrested a few persons in connection with the murder of Harish Poojary in Bantwal, but their names have not been revealed by the cops for political reasons.

He went on to claim that the DK district administration also has indirectly supported the bundh called by the VHP last week in the wake of Bantwal violence by imposing prohibitory orders throughout the district.

“Neither the government not the police department has guts to take any action against RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, who is fueling communal hatred in the region. Instead, SDPI activists belonging to minority community are being harassed,” he said recalling Mr Rai’s pre poll warning against Mr Bhat.