The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to organise protests across Karnataka against the alleged murder of Hindutva activist Paresh Mesta in the state’s Uttara Kannada district, The Hindu reported on Monday.
Mesta was found dead in a lake in Honnavur town on Friday, days after he went missing after communal clashes in the locality. On December 6, an altercation between an autorickshaw driver and a motorcycle rider turned into a communal clash, according to The News Minute.
Honnavur has been tense and has seen a few protests since Mesta’s body was found. Several protestors demanded immediate action against the culprits. The police have not filed a murder case yet as the autopsy report has not been released.
The BJP’s core committee, which met on Sunday, decided to organise protests in Honnavur, Bengaluru and New Delhi.
On Tuesday, all legislators from the party will march from the Vidhan Soudha premises in Bengaluru, which houses the Karnataka State Legislature and Secretariat, to the Raj Bhavan and submit a petition to the governor, demanding an inquiry by the National Investigation Agency into the deaths of Mesta and 18 other activists.
On December 15, the BJP MPs from the state are expected to raise the matter in Parliament and also discuss it with Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh. On December 18, former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and other senior party members will lead a protest rally in Honnavur.
“The situation in parts of the state is fast turning into something like in Kerala, and a similar awareness campaign is called for over the issue,” a senior leader who was at the meeting told The Hindu.
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