The Communist Party of India (Marxist) will hold indefinite protests in Bangalore and Udupi from Monday against the practice of ‘pankti bedha’ (separate seating arrangements for Brahmins and non-Brahmins for meals) at Krishna Math in Udupi.
CPI(M) State secretary G.V. Sriram Reddy told presspersons here on Friday that a 24-hour dharna would be held in all other districts on Monday.
He criticised the government for not taking a firm stand on the “discriminatory practice” and banning it.
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Mr. Reddy said they had expected Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ban practices such as ‘made snana’ and ‘pankti bedha’, but it had not happened.
On the incident at Tanikodu check-post, near Sringeri, where a youth from Mangalore was shot dead allegedly by Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) personnel, Mr. Reddy said the Bharatiya Janata Party’s reaction to the incident “exposes their true colours.”
He said the BJP had sought withdrawal of compensation paid to the family of the youth, Kabir (24), and cases filed against the ANF constable who had allegedly shot him. He said there was a clear design to turn the case against the youth and make him out to be a criminal. The Congress government should not buckle under pressure, he said.