MANGALURU: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal on Wednesday demanded that the government order the arrest of rationalist KS Bhagavan for allegedly outraging religious sentiments of Hindus. The rightwing outfits said they would approach the court if the government fails to do so.

The rightwing groups here have filed 30-odd complaints, most of them in the district, against the writer, and two FIRs have been registered. Since the place of the alleged offence was Bengaluru, Dakshina Kannada police have transferred the cases filed against the writer to the High Grounds Police station, Bengaluru.

VHP prantha working president Prof MB Puranik and district president Jagadish Shenava said Bhagavan has to be arrested since FIRs have been registered against him. “He continues to make statements deriding Hindu gods and seers,” they said alleging the writer was continuing his tirade as he was emboldened by the tacit support from chief minister Siddaramaiah who wanted to divide the society on religious lines because of the Ahinda factor.

“In case the government does not arrest Bhagavan, it may create further unrest,” they said. The VHP and the Bajrang Dal would approach the court for justice, Shenava said. He said any reaction from them was being termed as goondaism by the government, so they would pursue the matter in the court.

“We have strong reasons to believe that he has support from the government and the CM. Otherwise why is he not arrested? Any other person would have been behind bars now. This makes us believe that the government is supporting him and the police are toeing the line,” said Puranik.

“We want his arrest lest it leads to reactions from people,’’ said Sharan Pumpwell, prantha convener of Bajrang Dal. “If the police had acted immediately like they have done in many cases, the situation would not arise,” he added.

Yettinahole support : Puranik said the Yettinahole project should continue only after expert opinion has been obtained. Stressing that implementation of a project of this magnitude without taking people into confidence was not right, he called for immediate halt of the work, till expert opinion is got and analysis of the cost benefit and the effect on the people of DK is done.