Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today described the death of a middle-aged man during clashes at a town in Karnataka as "brutal killing" and asked the Centre to "protect Hindus against such acts of religious intolerance".
"We condemn the brutal killing of a Hindu, staging a peaceful demonstration, by a mob," VHP international working president Praveen Togadia said in a statement.
Togadia was referring to the death of a 50-year-old man, said to be associated with the VHP, who succumbed to injuries sustained during a clash that broke out in Madikeri town during a demonstration against the celebration of the birth anniversary of 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan.
All sangh parivar outfits, including the BJP, had declared a boycott of the celebrations holding that Tipu Sultan was a "fanatic" and not a "progressive and secular" ruler as described by the ruling Congress party in the state.
At Madikeri, violence erupted when a group taking out "Tipu Sultan Jayanti" procession came face to face with a agitators protesting the celebrations.
Both sides indulged in heavy stone-pelting before police intervention brought the situation under control.
