Mysuru, 9 Sept

BJP leaders, Hindu Jagarana Vedike members and others in Karnataka  were taken into preventive custody when they attempted to begin a 'Chamundi Hill Chalo' march on Tuesday, police said.

MLA TS Srivathsa and former Mysuru MP Pratap Simha were among those detained.

The protesters, who gathered in large numbers at Kurubarahalli Circle on Chamundi Hill road, were stopped before they began their march to the Chamundeshwari Temple atop the hill. Police had not given them permission to hold the rally.

Police cited the sensitivity of the situation and law and order issues, when taking them into preventive custody.

The Hindu Jagarana Vedike had called for 'Chamundi Hill Chalo' to protest Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s statement that the Chamundi Hill was not the property of Hindus alone.

Similarly, members of the Dalit Mahasabha who also wanted to take a counter protest, were also stopped and taken into preventive custody.

The BJP and several Hindu organisations have objected to the State government’s decision to invite International Booker Prize winning author Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate this year’s Dasara festivities.