http://www.thehindu.com/2010/03/31/stories/2010033152240300.htm
Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad Dalit organisations stage protest Staff Correspondent HUBLI: Members of various Dalit organisations blocked traffic for more than half an hour and staged a dharna in Hubli on Monday in protest against the alleged defilement of a statue of B.R. Ambedkar in Bangalore. A dharna was staged in Dharwad in protest against the State Government's failure to check exploitation of Dalits and minorities. In Hubli, the protestors staged the dharna near Ambedkar's statue near the Head Post Office and blocked the road for more than half an hour. They raised slogans against the Government for its failure to check exploitation of Dalits and minorities. They said the desecration of the statue of Ambedkar at Nanjappa Circle in Shantinagar of Bangalore seemed to be a deliberate political act, as the elections to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahangara Palike Council were held on Sunday. They urged the Government to immediately take steps to arrest the perpetrators of the crime, which had pained Dalits and all those who advocated social justice. The protestors then submitted a memorandum addressed to the Governor urging him to direct the Government to take action in the matter. Hubli Tahsildar S.S. Biradar received the memorandum from them. During the protest in Dharwad, the protestors alleged that after the Government, led by the BJP, came to power in the State, atrocities against Dalits, minorities and weaker sections of society had increased. They wanted the Governor to issue directions to the Government and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Governor.
