Belagavi: Home minister G Parameshwara defended the lathicharge on protesters, citing injuries to 23 police personnel as the tipping point. Making a suo moto statement in the assembly, Parameshwara detailed the sequence of events, asserting that police action was unavoidable after protestors resorted to violence.
The protest, originally planned with 5,000 tractors near Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, was curtailed by the Belagavi administration over security concerns. "Despite allowing smaller vehicles, tension escalated on Dec 10 when protesters rejected a meeting with the chief minister," he said. The protesters breached barricades with tractors, pelting stones and slippers at police.
Meanwhile, BJP members demanded a judicial probe, an apology to the community, and withdrawal of cases against the protesters. The govt refused, prompting the BJP to walk out in protest.