On Kerala visit, BSY faces heat of CAA protest

BENGALURU: Chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday faced the heat of anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in Kerala when a group of workers of the ruling CPM and Opposition Congress attempted to block his convoy in Kannur.

Protesters holding black flags shouted “go back” and attempted to waylay the vehicle, but police acted swiftly to prevent them from causing physical harm. The protesters were responding to a recent incident in Mangaluru where Karnataka police had detained some Kerala journalists who had come to report on violence following anti-CAA protests in the coastal city. The police action had caused outrage in Kerala and even prompted chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to write to Yediyurappa, requesting to release the journalists. Another reason for protest against the Karnataka chief minister is said to be his support to CAA and NRC.

Earlier on Tuesday, three protesters from Youth Congress had waved black flags at Yediyurappa when he arrived at Thiruvananthapuram airport to board a flight to Kannur. Police have detained the protesters.


Yediyurappa is on a temple visit in Kerala. He is an ardent devotee and a regular visitor to Rajarajeshwara temple at Taliparamba in Kannur district.

As the video of protesters blocking Yediyurappa’s vehicle went viral, Kerala BJP lashed out at the state government for its failure to provide security to the Karnataka CM. “CPM’s youth wing, unleashes a cowardly attack on Karnataka CM Shri@BSYBJP. It was the driver’s evasive action that helped the CM escape from further brutality. State police didn’t take any precautions even after getting security threats in advance,” Kerala BJP tweeted.

Yediyurappa too called the incident a “conspiracy by vested interests”. “I was on a personal visit. It is wrong to accuse entire Keralites for the action of some miscreants. The incident that happened in God’s own country should not diminish the honour of Kerala,” he said.

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Mangaluru city police, which had come under severe attack by the opposition Congress and JD(S) for its high-handedness at CAA protesters, on Tuesday released several videos on social media as a proof of riots. Opposition leaders have accused the state government and police for death of two civilians in anti-CAA protests last week. The Mangaluru police commissioner on Monday had appealed to the public to share photos and videos of riots as he said it would “help in investigation”.

A day later, the police put out several images and videos on its Facebook page, seeking help from people to identify miscreants. Home minister Basavaraj Bommai has termed the incident as an “organised crime”. He alleged that there could be a political angle to the violence. “Why did a team of political leaders from Kerala visit Mangaluru (on Monday)? What have they got to do with the riots,” he asked.