Hindu outfits in Karnataka calling for the boycott of Muslim traders near the vicinity of temples continued their protest across several parts of the state.
They tried to stop non-Hindu traders from conducting business in Anjanadri Hill in the Koppal district. The district administration, however, intervened and removed the banners that were put up by the groups and warned legal action against those who put it up, the Indian Express reported.
Muslims traders had also installed shops on the occasion of ‘Hanuman Mala Vrit Visarjana’ event on Tuesday, despite posters demanding not to allow non-Hindus to conduct business on display, according to the daily.
The banners were reportedly put up by the members of Hindu Jagarana Vedike. But the temple authorities brought the issue to the notice of the district administration and police and the banners were removed later.
HJV leader Shrikanth told the Indian Express that they are demanding a ban against non-Hindu traders from doing business at all Hindu shrines in the state. “You saw the recent arrests in terror accused cases and Hindu temples are under the radar of anti-national elements,” he said.
Some of the non-Hindu vendors have closed their shops within the temple vicinity until the situation eases down and others have moved away their stalls from the shrines, even as they had support from the district administration.
Hindu outfits across the state have been making continuous campaigns calling for the economic boycott of Muslims in Karnataka.
On Tuesday, Bengaluru Police detained three Hindu activists from Bajarang Dal into preventive custody for threatening to stage a protest against the decision to allow Muslim traders to do business in the city’s Subramanyeshwara temple.
Hindu activists in Kodagu reportedly sent away Muslim traders who were doing business near the Harihara Subramanya Temple in Ponnampete.
