A huge protest march was held in Bengaluru on Saturday, February 19, demanding that a Karnataka district judge who objected to placing BR Ambedkar's portrait next to Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait on Republic Day in Raichur be suspended. The massive rally which clogged the Anand Rao circle flyover, prompted Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to meet the protesters in Freedom Park. Accepting their memorandum, Bommai promised to convey their demands to the relevant people. CM Bommai meeting protesters at the park was unusual in itself.
Visuals of the protest showed a sea of people holding up the blue flags of the Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha as well as that some flags of the SDPI. According to reports, the rally saw sloganeering as well, with people shouting ‘We want justice’ and that the ‘Government does not belong to anyone’s father’. Scores of people were also seen in blue t-shirts, holding up placards with BR Ambedkar’s photo on it. Photographs also showed a sea of people taking up the Maurya Circle flyover as they looked to march towards Vidhana Soudha.
HUGE sea of blue today at freedom park.
— vinaysreenivasa ವಿನಯ (@vinaysreeni) February 19, 2022
Samvidhana Surakshana Maha Okkuta 's rally demanding reservation in judiciary, action against the district judge who insulted Dr.Ambedkar and the constitution, t photos of Dr.Ambedkar be installed in all court halls across Karnataka pic.twitter.com/zhUrvjkLNM
1.5+ lakh Karnataka egalitarians hit the streets today in downtown Bengaluru
— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) February 19, 2022
Ambedkarite-Periyarist movement for #equality & #justice is making waves across every district
We are the cooling ice to ur sectarian fire; we are panacea to ur ideological sickness; we are the future! pic.twitter.com/anCVS9uSYZ
AICCTU participated in full force in the rally called by the Samvidhana Samrakshana Maha Okkutta -Karnataka demanding the display of portraits of Babasaheb Ambedkar in every court hall, amongst other demands pic.twitter.com/2HMpJf7RSb
— AICCTU Karnataka (@aicctukar) February 19, 2022
https://t.co/hQXPTMctE2
— shankar MSY (@shankar_MSY) February 20, 2022
Massive protest by Dalits in Bangalore on 19/02/2022
Against #judgeMallikarjuna Gowda incident who disrespected Dr Ambedkar photo pic.twitter.com/F9RWtalVy0
Protesters from the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti and allies from labour unions, farmers, women and student groups from Bengaluru and other parts of the state gathered responding to the call by Samvidhana Samrakshana Maha Okkutta at the City Railway Station. TThey demanded the suspension of Judge Mallikarjuna Gowda who belongs to the Vokkaliga community and that strict legal action be initiated against him. They also demanded that Ambedkar's portrait be displayed in every court hall of the state, apart from his picture being placed at all judicial programmes.
Massive rally towards Vidhana soudha with slogans "we want Justice | government doesn't belong to anyone's father". Cops halt the massive gathering moving towards High court citing section 144.#SaveTheConstitution
— Syed Mueen (@Mueen_magadi) February 19, 2022
2 pic.twitter.com/Y1xs6cBLEB
Samvidhana Surakshana Maha Okkuta organized & March demanding action against the district judge who insulted Dr.Ambedkar & constitution. Photos of Dr.Ambedkar to be installed in all court halls across Karnataka.
— Syed Mueen (@Mueen_magadi) February 19, 2022
1 pic.twitter.com/wvhadh3wR7
Following the incident on Republic Day, there were multiple small-scale protests held in various parts of the state demanding strict action. But so far, he has only been transferred from his position of Principal District and Sessions of Raichur District to the presiding officer of the Karnataka State Transport Appellate Tribunal, Bengaluru.
Responding to the criticism, Judge Malikarjuna had claimed that he did not mean any disrespect to Ambedkar. In a press statement, he said the portrait of Ambedkar was never removed and there was false propaganda against him. He said, “Some advocates approached me and demanded that Ambedkar’s portrait be placed next to that of Mahatma Gandhi as per a government order. I told them that the High Court Registrar had informed us in our Leaders Group that the government order was before the full bench (of the High Court) and asked us to wait till the decision was made on the matter and requested them not to force me.”
Later on February 4, the full court of Karnataka High Court had decided to place the portrait of Ambedkar at all official functions of the HC, district and taluk courts of the state.