Mangaluru : BJP District Committee president Sanjiv Matandur strongly condemned the act of Police department which has turned down the request by the party to grant permission to hold Mangaluru Chalo bike rally.

Addressing reporters at the district BJP office on Tuesday, he said the state government has imposed an undeclared emergency in the state, by not allowing the rally to take place, even though BJP is keen on taking out a peaceful rally. The Police department has made an erroneous assumption on Mangaluru Chalo, he said.

He said the top cops are being biased in making decisions. He questioned how permission was given to conduct the Souharda Rally to be taken out by the Congress from Parangipet to Mani on August 12.

The Police department has only been following the orders of Ministers B Ramanath Rai and U T Khader, neglecting constitutional rights, which is unfortunate, he said.

He condemned the detaining of BJP leaders R Ashok, Shobha Karandlaje, Pratap Simha and others.

However, the rally will be conducted as planned, he said. The BJP has given a call to all its workers to come to Mangaluru. Permission has not been granted to stage a formal function in Nehru Maidan. But, the programme will be held at any cost, he asserted.

Leaders Umanath Kotian, Vedavyas Kamath, Kasturi Panja, Harish Poonja and Brijesh Chowta were present.