Mysuru: A war of words has broken out between the Mysuru district administration and BJP leaders with sources in the administration asserting that there was no ban on Hanuma Jayanti procession taken out in Hunsur on Sunday, on the route declared by the administration.
Sources revealed that Deputy Commissioner D Randeep had issued an order declaring the ‘procession route’ for both Eid Milad and Hanuma Jayanti processions in Hunsur, on November 5 itself. The organiser of Hunuma Jayanti had gone on appeal against the procession route announced by the DC but the home department had rejected the appeal saying it could be reviewed next year.
There was a deliber ate attempt by MP Pratap Simha to violate law and order on the procession route and so he was arrested as a preventive measure, the sources claimed. The arrest of Mr Simha has also been communicated to the Lok Sabha Speaker, they said. The sources asserted that with the gathering getting bigger and sensing that the situation was getting out of control, the administration had to disperse the crowd. “The situation in Hunsur is peaceful now,” Southern range IGP Mr Vipul Kumar said. Mr Simha, however, tweeted, “protecting my religion and my tradition is much more important than my political future.”
Speaking to the electronic media, he claimed that the Hanuma Jayanti procession was not permitted and this had happened for the first time in 25 years.
Mr Simha also claimed that he did not make any attempt to hit the barricades as claimed by the police.
Rushing to his defence, BJP leader and MP Shobha Karandlaje alleged that CM Siddaramaiah had misused his power in his hometown. As many as 58 devotees of Lord Hanuman have been arrested, and some were students who had come for darshan, she claimed.
Union Minister Mr Ananth Kumar who held a press meet in Mysuru, said, “The district administration which had permitted Eid Milad procession, banned Hanuma Jayanti procession, and thus discriminated between the two communities. We will take up the issue in Parliament,” he said. Mr Simha was released on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, 58 devotees of lord Hanuma who were arrested in Hunsur as a preventive measure were released from Mysuru Central Jail with Mr Pratap Simha receiving them. He said he was confident of getting permission for the Hanuma Jayanthi procession as per tradition, in Hunsur in future.
