Mangaluru: Though the high court of Karnataka upheld the ban orders passed by the Bangalore Police Commissioner barring the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishat) international working president Praveen Togadia from entering the city, the state BJP leader K S Eshwarappa demanded chief minister Siddaramaiah review the decision taken by the commissioner.

The leader of the opposition in the upper house of the state assembly, Eshwarappa alleged that the Congress party through its ban orders mocked the very essence of freedom of speech enshrined in article (19) (1) (a) of the constitution.

When asked about the recent ban issued against Asaduddin Owaisi, he maintained that his ban was also slap on the rights of individual.

To a query on the clashes that erupted near Karaya in Uppinangady following a provocative speech in a rally organized at Puttur, he expressed that Togadia was not responsible for the violence and it was the failure of the police machinery in containing the law and order of the place.

“Many cases booked against Togadia for alleged hate speeches have disposed off by  the court favoring the latter.” He stated that the BJP that lead the protests in the assembly in the ongoing winter session to withdraw the ban orders was pained by the high court verdict on Togadia’s case.

He demanded that the chief minister of Karnataka, reconsider the ban orders and uphold constitutional rights. He alleged that the Congress party was famous for suppressing the constitutional right to freedom of speech, and recalled the Emergency imposed during Indira Gandhi’s tenure that silenced media and individuals’ free expression.