UNITED THEY STAND: Leaders of political parties and social organisations taking out a protest march in Gulbarga on Saturday against the arrest of R.K. Hudgi and his son in connection with the damage to the idol of Hanuman.

GULBARGA: The protest against the arrest of Prof. R.K. Hudgi and his son Sunil Hudgi in connection with the damage to the idol of Hanuman placed in a public park gained momentum with two legislators B.R. Patil and Vaijnath Patil demanding that the Government withdraw all cases booked against the professor and his son.

Release sought

Along with Mr B.R. Patil and Vaijnath Patil, senior writers, professors from different colleges and universities and representatives of several organisations including Dalit Sangharsha Samiti, Veerashaiva Samaj leaders, Samudaya, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Janawadi Mahila Sanghatane, and several other organisations joined hands to form a joint forum called "Gulbarga Communal Harmony Forum" to launch a series of agitations against the Government seeking the immediate release of Prof. Hudgi and his son. The forum's first meeting was held in the city on Sunday. It was unanimously decided to hold a day's dharna in front of Dr B.R. Ambedkar's statue in Gulbarga on Monday.

Talking to presspersons, Mr B.R. Patil, Vaijnath Patil, CPI(M) Secretariat Member Maruti Manpade, Prof. Meenakshi Bali, and Janawadi Mahila Sanghatane State President K. Neela accused the State Government of buckling under the pressure of communal forces and foisting false cases against Prof. Hudgi and his son.

Norms violated

Mr. B.R. Patil said Prof Hudgi was picked up by the police in the morning of January 13. He was told that he was being taken to the police station to give protection. In violation of norms, he was informed of the arrest only late in the evening. His appearance before the court was delayed as it was a holiday on January 14 and 15. He was produced before the magistrate in the night, who remanded him to two days' police custody.

Mr. Patil pointed out that Prof Hudgi was a reputed writer, a respected person heading a social organisation like Samudaya and working for communal harmony.

Mr. Manpade said that although the police had booked cases under the same section against corporation officials who removed the idol from the public garden, so far no official has been arrested. Similarly, the police have also not shown the same urgency in arresting BJP corporators and legislator and others who allegedly indulged in violence in the administrative office of the Gulbarga City Corporation on January 13, Mr. Manpade said.

He said a complaint will be filed against the police for arrest of Prof Hudgi simply based on the complaint filed by a few BJP leaders.

On Saturday, writers and members of various social organisations took out a procession in the city and submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Anjum Parvez seeking immediate release of Prof Hudgi and withdrawal of all cases filed against him.

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