Kannada activists arrested, released within hour

Vattal demands state government take over running of border town, says Mumbai should be part of Karnataka

Protesters being taken to Cubbon Park Police Station in vans after being taken into “preventive custody.”

By Shraddha Choudhury

BANGALORE (Dec. 8)—Kannada activist Vattal Nagaraj and his supporters were arrested a few meters from the Raj Bhavan for attempting to mount a protest there, demanding that the Karnataka government take over the municipal corporation of Belgaum, a town on the Karnataka/Maharashtra border.

After holding a protest before the Mahatma Gandhi Statue on M.G. Road, Nagaraj and around 1,500 supporters were marching toward the Raj Bhavan governor’s residence to continue their protest. The police said they were “taken into  preventive custody” at Cubbon Park Police Station in two police vans.

“We weren’t doing anything wrong,” Nagaraj said after being released. “In spite of restrictions, we insisted on moving forward toward Raj Bhavan.”

Activists held under catch-all legal clause

Vattal Nagaraj and his supporters after being released from Cubbon Park Police Station

Among those arrested were N. Murthy, leader of Dalit activist group Dalit Sangharsh Samiti; Sara Govindu, president of Karnataka Dr. Rajkumar Fans Association, a group of fans of the late Kannada actor; and Praveen Kumar, member of the Kannada activist group Kannada Rakshavedhike.

“They were arrested under Section 71 of the Karnataka Police Act,” said Dr. G. Ramesh, deputy commissioner of police in the Central Division.

Under this law, the Karnataka police have the authority to restrain or remove any person refusing to conform to any directions given by a police officer.

This arrest appeared to be meant as a warning to Nagaraj and his supporters. They were released within an hour of being taken into custody.

‘Mumbai should be part of Karnataka’

In addition to his earlier demand stating that he wanted the Karnataka government to “supersede” the Belgaum Mahanagar Palike (municipal corporation), which currently has a majority of Maharashtrian members, Nagaraj now demands that Mumbai be a part of Karnataka.

“Mumbai has 2 million Kannadigas—it should be a part of Karnataka,” he said. “Lok Sabha [parliament] members and kendra [central government] ministers should meet the prime minister and president to reassure the Kannadigas of their safety.”

On Nov. 29, Nagaraj held a press conference at Woodlands Hotel to voice his disagreement with Hindu nationalist Bal Thackeray’s comments on Chandrakanth Kambar, a renowned poet, who had said that the Maharastrians in Belgaum “disrupt peace” and “create chaos.”

Police eye precautionary measures

Nagaraj and his party, Kannada Cheluvalike, plan on declaring a protest on Dec. 23 in Belgaum and also a Karnataka bandh (general strike) if their demands are not met.

The police plan on taking precautionary measures before the strike is declared.

“We will assess the situation and then think about arresting the protesters if needed,” Ramesh said.