Ballari: Police have registered an FIR against 22 BJP leaders, including former MLA G. Somashekara Reddy and MP Renukacharya, for allegedly violating regulations during the BJP’s ‘Ballari Chalo’ padayatra organised against the state government.The case was registered at the Ballari Rural police station following a road blockade on Ballari-Hosapete National Highway 67 on Sept 9. According to police, the leaders obstructed public movement and staged a protest without prior permission after civic authorities removed banners and flags erected within city limits.The BJP’s ‘Ballari Chalo’ padayatra, which was conducted from Kammarchedu village to Ballari city, concluded on Sept 9. Officials stated that BJP flags and banners had been put up along the route without obtaining the required permissions from the authorities.District authorities had permitted the installation of flags only up to BITM College and had imposed restrictions on erecting banners within the jurisdiction of the Ballari City Corporation. Despite these conditions, officials alleged that banners and flags were installed at several locations inside the city limits.A day before the concluding programme, Ballari City Corporation personnel removed the banners and flags that were allegedly erected in violation of the prescribed norms. The action sparked a confrontation between BJP leaders and the district administration.Angered by the removal of the materials, BJP leaders staged a dharna on NH-67 on Sept 9, blocking traffic and disrupting vehicular movement for some time. Police alleged that the protest caused inconvenience to commuters and affected the free flow of traffic on the busy highway.The incident has now resulted in legal proceedings against the BJP leaders for allegedly organising the demonstration without permission and disrupting public movement. Police said further investigation is under way, and action will be taken in accordance with the law.
