Prakash Raj targeted by protesters in Dharwad, Karnataka

Hindu organisations and some BJP workers attempted to gherao actor Prakash Raj in Dharwad, Karnataka, on Sunday. The confrontation occurred in front of the Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha venue where the actor was scheduled to participate in the ‘Manushyatvadege Samudaya Jatha’ programme.

Protestors alleged that the actor might make anti-Hindu statements during the event. Tensions rose as a group of youths attempted to surround the actor and force entry into the venue. During the incident, two youths allegedly smeared ink on and tore a banner featuring Prakash Raj. Police intervened to prevent protesters from entering and detained several individuals, though some protesters refused to board police vehicles.

In response to the incident, programme organisers staged a road protest, sitting in the street and raising slogans against the RSS.

Separately, Prakash Raj announced that civil society organisations in Karnataka will hold an ‘Election Commission Chalo’ campaign in Bengaluru on September 1. The campaign opposes the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with the actor raising concerns regarding the deletion of voters marked as absent or permanently shifted.