Following the footsteps of BJP veteran LK Advani’s rath yatra to Ayodhya, the saffron party in Karnataka is planning a similar rally in five cities to demand the resignation of Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge of Congress and Minister Ramanath Rai.
Ahead of the 2018 elections, the BJP has decided to bring the rath yatra to Karnataka, which will be a part of the Mangaluru Chalo agitation to seek the Minister’s resignation, Times of India reported.
In September 1990, former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani had also carried out the Ram Rath Yatra, which culminated in Ayodhya and led to communal violence across the nation. The BJP Yuva Morcha will take the lead in the rath yatra. Around 10,000 bikers along with five raths in five cities will lead the agitation, which will culminate in Mangaluru.
The saffron party is yet to apply for police permission for the campaign.
The raths will be designed on modified trucks and contain pictures of deceased RSS worker Sharath Madivala and 11 other murdered RSS and BJP workers. These five raths will start their journey from Bengaluru, Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad and Shivamogga, the report says.
On their way, the raths will stop at various locations to conduct rallies, and party workers will speak to the public.
These raths will reach Mangaluru on September 7 and a massive rally will be held by the BJP state President B S Yeddyurappa demanding the resignation of Ramanath Rai. BJP leaders from other states are also likely to be present, the report says.
Except for Mysuru-Kodagu MP and BJP Yuva Morch President Prathap Simha, no other state leader will accompany the raths.
Prathap Simha is will lead the Mysuru rath. Simha was asked to organise the rally and the matter was discussed during BJP National President Amit Shah’s visit to Bengaluru.
The Bengaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad and Shivamogga bikers, will set out as teams of 1,500 to 2,000 workers from each of these cities on September 5. The Mysuru and Chikkamagaluru teams will start on September 6. The five teams will be accompanied by mechanics and ambulances, the report adds.
For overnight stays, the BJP is looking out for feasible marriage halls and hostels for party workers. The party is also looking to make helmets mandatory for the long ride, unlike city rallies where they generally ignore the headgear, it states.