AT the call of Left parties – CPI, CPI(M), and CPI(ML), hundreds of people gathered at Freedom Park in Bangalore to protest against the Israel’s bombing on Gaza killing thousands of Palestinians including women and children.

Bangalore police had refused permission for the protest. But people gathered defying the police ban and proceeded to hold the demonstration. Police arrested the demonstrators and took them to City Armed Reserve (South) at Adugodi. The demonstration also continued at CAR (South).  Anti-war slogans were raised, speeches were given and, poems were read at CAR(South).

It is to be noted that under the BJP state government, demonstrations, agitations were allowed only at Freedom Park in the whole of Bangalore. After the Congress party came to power, Left parties, Citizens groups and peoples movements have been demanding removal of restrictions on protests at various other venues. Instead, the Congress has banned this demonstration at Freedom Park also. It is learnt that the ban was because it is an anti-Israel protest, and ‘fear of law and order’ problems.