Bangalore: Over 50 activists of a Kannada
protagonist organisation were taken into custody when they
staged a black flag demonstration against BJP President Nitin
Gadkari in protest against the party fielding an "outsider" to
contest the March 3 Rajya Sabha by-poll from Karnataka.
The BJP has chosen actress Hema Malini, who will file her
nomination papers on Monday, for the bypoll.
The by-election was necessitated to fill up the vacancy
caused by the death of M Rajsekhara Murthy of JD-S.
Activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike staged the protest
in front of Bengaluru International Airport when Gadkari
arrived in Bangalore to participate in a rally organised by BJP.
The rally is being held to mark the completion of 1000
days in office of the first BJP government in the South.
Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa had on Saturday welcomed the
BJP central leadership`s decision to field her from the state,
amid reports that ruling BJP`s Karnataka unit was ignored in
selecting Hema Malini to contest the by-poll.
PTI
