Various organisations demand release of arrested Vijayapura activists

Members of various organisations have demanded the release of activists arrested for protesting against a PPP model medical college in Vijayapura.

Vijaypaura Government Medical College Agitation Committee has decided to continue the agitation.

The Dalit Vidyarthi Parishat, the DSS, the Zilla Angavikalara Kalyan Sangha, the Karnataka Rashtra Samiti, Aam Aadmi Party and the Vijayapura Journalists Association have demanded that the accused be released immediately.

Member of the agitation committee Basavaraj Sulibavi told reporters in Vijaypaura on Tuesday that the committee has decided to continue the agitation.

“The six activists will continue the protest inside the jail, while we will continue it outside. The State government should realise that it cannot repress the agitation by such means. The only way to end the protest is by fulfilling our demands,” he said.

He described the move as undemocratic and unconstitutional.

Sri Sanganabasava Swami of Hunshyal Math, Dalit writer and activist Anil Hosmani, committee chairman Aravind Kulkarni and members Bhagwan Reddy, Sidram Hallur and Bhogesh Solapur have been charged with attempt to murder, among others. “This is not acceptable,” he said.

The police also removed the tent used by the protestors at midnight. Such acts are against the spirit of the Constitution. It seems that the State government has to make Constitution reading mandatory for the police, Mr. Sulibavi said.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to unveil the statue of Kittur Channamma in Vijayapura on Friday. We demand that the Chief Minister make a public announcement that the State government will cancel plans of having a PPP model medical college in the district but will go ahead with a government medical college, instead. If the Chief Minister says that the project will be taken up after a few years, we are okay with it. However, it cannot try to end our protest now by making false promises and then implement the PPP project later,” Mr. Sulibavi said.

The other demands include replacing M.B. Patil as district in-charge Minister of Vijayapura and strict action against the police who have filed serious cases like attempt to murder against the activists.

He said that their demand has a precedent, as the State government cancelled a plan to set up a PPP model college in Kanakapura and decided to open a government medical college there instead.

“The Chief Minister is scheduled to inaugurate a government medical college in Haveri on Wednesday. If Haveri can have a government medical college, why cannot Vijayapura?” he said.

Meanwhile, M.B. Patil defended the police action against the activists.

“During the protest, the seer slapped a policeman on duty. How is that justified? Also, what was the need for the committee members to continue their strike even after a solemn assurance from me? What is the whole purpose of the agitation then? I think the protestors are misguided. They have been demanding a written assurance that we will drop the PPP college idea. Can any Minister of any party give such an assurance? Such things are impossible,” he said.

However, the Minister also dissociated himself with the police action against the activists and said that it was the decision of the police officers and that he had nothing to do with it.

But the Minister said that he will arrange a meeting of the committee members with the Chief Minister during his visit to Vijayapura on Friday.

He said that he will speak to the police and other officials and see how the arrested activists can be helped.