Vinayak Damodar Savarkar row: BJP men wave black flags, throw eggs at Siddaramaiah car

MADIKERI: BJP activists threw eggs and waved black flags at the convoy of former CM Siddaramaiah here on Thursday for his remarks on Hindu Mahasabha leader Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's flex.
The opposition leader in the legislative assembly was touring Kodagu district to inspect flood-affected areas and hand out compensation. At three different places, Siddaramaiah had to bear the brunt of BJP youth workers' ire. In Madikeri, some workers allegedly lobbed eggs at his convoy near General KS Thimayya Circle while he was returning after meeting people in flood-hit areas in the district. At Guddehosuru in Kushalnagar, too, his convoy was pelted with eggs.
Earlier in the day, Hindu activists and BJP protesters not only raised 'Go Back Siddaramaiah' slogans as he entered Kodagu via Thithimathi, but also waved freedom fighter Savarkar's photos in front of his car. One of them managed to throw Savarkar's photo into Siddaramaiah's car in protest against the Congress leader questioning the need to place a Savarkar flex in a Muslim-dominated area in Shivamogga a few days ago.
At another place in Madikeri, the former CM was greeted with black flags. Police had a difficult time controlling BJP protesters, including women, who had stood in the middle of the road, blocking Siddaramaiah's convoy. The protest also led to clashes between Congress and BJP workers.
Siddaramaiah termed the egg-attack on his car a cowardly act and alleged that there was no governance and law and order in the state. He said that BJP leaders had hired goondas to attack him. "Even Congress workers can restrict the movement of the chief minister and ministers if they wish. It is sad that we have come to this stage," he rued.
Hitting back at Siddaramaiah, BJP' national general secretary CT Ravi challenged the former CM to a public debate on nationalist Savarkar and "tyrant" Tipu Sultan. "Siddaramaiah's statement is incorrect and unconstitutional. What does he mean by Savarkar's poster should not be installed in Muslim areas? This jihadi mindset has resulted in the partition of many countries. Your (Siddaramaiah) periodic jihadi statements are proving to be more dangerous than the jihadis who kill innocents," he said.
On August 15, a few people had put up Savarkar's photo at a circle close to a mosque in Shivamogga, which led to tension and clashes in the town. Three people were stabbed in different places leading to further tension in the town.