Mysuru: Mysuru city police on Tuesday foiled attempts by right-wing and Dalit activists to take out padayatras to the Chamundi Hills.Kurubarahalli Circle witnessed tense moments until noon owing to two protests. While the right-wing activists opposed the state govt’s decision to invite the International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the Dasara festival on Sept 22, the Dalit activists supported the govt’s decision, accusing the right-wing organisations of politicising the issue.Police denied permission to both organisations to take out the padayatras on Monday.Right-wing organisations led by Hindu Jagarana Vedike planned to launch the Chamundi Hills Chalo from the Kurubarahalli Circle and proceed to the Sri Chamundeshwari Temple atop the hills to mark their protest against Banu’s selection and DCM DK Shivakumar’s statement that Chamundi Hills does not belong to Hindus alone.BJP functionaries, including Krishnaraja MLA TS Srivatsa, city unit president L Nagendra, and Sushruth Gowda, led the march. When they arrived near the circle, they were detained by the police and taken to City Armed Reserve grounds. The functionaries urged police to allow the Sankeerthana Yatra, stating it is a peaceful march.Later, a group of party activists led by former MP Pratap Simmha tried to take out the padayatra. Simmha urged Banu to apologise before arriving at Mysuru to inaugurate the Dasara festival.Police detained over 200 right-wing activists and took them to Alanahalli police station. Meanwhile, Dalit Mahasabha also held a protest near the circle early on Tuesday morning. The activists were led by S Rajesh. Police stopped them from carrying out the padayatra. Rajesh urged the people to reject the communal politics of the BJP.Devotees were affectedThe devotees were affected by the agitations, as a majority of them were not able to have darshan of Goddess Chamundeshwari on Tuesday. The footfall fell sharply, even though it was Tuesday when the number of devotees usually increases.According to sources, the KSRTC cancelled all bus operations to the temple and private vehicles were regulated. “We reached the city bus stand early in the morning to have darshan. But we were informed that there was no bus service and private vehicles were not allowed to enter the hills,” said Suneetha Ramegowda, a resident of Agrahara. “We were informed that after 12pm, bus service would be launched. But there was no sign of service until 1pm. So we returned home,” she said.According to the KSRTC officials, the bus service resumed only in the evening.
