The historic city of Mysuru became a flashpoint of political tension on Wednesday as rival demonstrations by the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the National Herald case led to a massive police deployment to maintain public order.
Congress Protest Against "Vendetta Politics"
Congress activists gathered near Ramaswamy Circle to stage a strong protest against the Union government. They alleged that central investigative agencies were being misused to target senior party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. The protesters raised slogans accusing the BJP of engaging in vendetta politics.
The demonstration turned confrontational when party workers attempted to march towards the local BJP office to lay siege. Police had anticipated the move and erected barricades to block their path. This led to heated arguments and brief scuffles between the protesters and law enforcement personnel.
Despite a tight security cordon, a few determined activists managed to cross the barricades. They were promptly detained by police and taken away in official vehicles, though they were released later. Prominent Congress leaders, including KPCC spokesperson M Lakshmana and former MLA MK Somashekar, were present and actively participated in the protest.
BJP's Counter-Demonstration in Support of Probe
Simultaneously, BJP workers organized a counter-demonstration right in front of their party office in Mysuru. Their protest was aimed at the Congress leadership and the Gandhi family. The BJP activists raised slogans alleging large-scale corruption and asserted that the investigation into the National Herald case was proceeding strictly according to the law.
Waving party flags, the BJP supporters also expressed their solidarity with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The demonstration was led by leaders including S Mahadevaiah and presidents of various city wings of the party.
Heavy Police Presence Prevents Direct Clash
The most critical task for the police was to ensure the two opposing groups did not come into direct contact, which could have sparked violence. A strong and strategic police presence was maintained throughout the day, successfully keeping the two demonstrations apart. This preventive measure ensured that despite the high tensions and provocative sloganeering from both sides, no major physical confrontation occurred between the rival party workers.
The events in Mysuru underscore the deep political divisions and the heightened emotions surrounding the National Herald case, which continues to be a major point of contention between India's two largest political parties.
