Reacting to the BJP protests, DK Suresh said, "...I happily welcome their protests. May god bless them” adding that anyone in a democracy has the right to protest and freedom of speech.
The Bajrang Dal has reportedly announced that the Hanuman Dhwaj campaign in Mandya will begin on Friday. Earlier, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) declared that the saffron flag campaign would be carried out across the state, with flags being hoisted atop all houses.
DK Suresh, who is the brother of Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, said in response to the budget that the money collected through from Southern states are being used in Northern states.
A senior police officer said, "These group members and their network are always on the lookout for inter-faith couples and attacked them. The Akkialur and Byadagi moral policing incidents are similar, but it will be proved after investigation."
Speaking on tensions in Mandya, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said, "It is not right to fly the saffron flag instead of the national flag. They should have hoisted the national flag."