Ballari: The BJP has announced plans to organise a massive protest rally in Ballari on Jan 17, condemning the state govt’s handling of the banner riot incident that occurred on New Year’s Day.The announcement was made on Thursday during a joint press conference by Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy and MLC N Ravikumar. They alleged that Congress MLA Bharat Reddy was responsible for instigating the violence by politicising the unveiling of the Maharishi Valmiki statue with malicious intent.Janardhana Reddy stated that Bharat Reddy erected banners to insult him and directed private gunmen to shoot at him. He mentioned that over 40 bullets were fired on Jan 1. He found three bullets, while forensic teams recovered four bullets, and two unfired bullets were also discovered.The BJP leaders further alleged that Bharat Reddy had openly threatened to set Ballari on fire within 10 minutes and to burn down Janardhana Reddy’s residence, yet no action had been taken against him. “If BJP workers had made similar statements, would the govt have remained silent? They would have been arrested immediately. Where have chief minister Siddaramaiah’s constitutional principles gone?” they questioned.Janardhana Reddy and Ravikumar accused the state govt of remaining indifferent to the statements made by the Congress MLA and criticised what they termed as the govt’s biased approach. In protest against this alleged injustice, the BJP has decided to stage a large-scale rally in Ballari.They said a BJP core committee meeting will also be held in Ballari on Jan 17, following which party leaders will participate in the protest at the APMC premises in the city. Union minister HD Kumaraswamy has been invited to the rally, and senior leaders including BJP state president BY Vijayendra, R Ashoka, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Govind Karjol and former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai are expected to attend.Janardhana Reddy expressed concern that the people of Ballari are still living in fear following the riots. He said the rally is intended to reassure residents and restore confidence. He also clarified that no banners or flags will be displayed during the protest.“After the protest, we will go door to door and appeal to people not to panic,” he said.
