Mysuru: Progressive Groups Comprising members of PUCL, CPI (M) and DSS staged a protest in front of Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple here yesterday coming down heavily on the Union Government for arresting Human Rights activists and members of leftist groups.

Speaking on the occasion Social activist P. Mallesh opined that ever since the BJP came to power at the Centre, the freedom of the common man was being curtailed.

He contended that BJP along with RSS were coordinating in the names of religion and caste which was detrimental to society and democracy. Hence he asked the progressive groups to put down such unwelcome and unethical development.

Another activist Dr. V. Lakshminarayan said that the Union Government was totally against pro-people activists.

Writer H. Doreswamy contended that the Union Government was debating more on religion-related matters than the deteriorating economic condition of the country.

Writer Bannur Raju, Panditharadya of PUCL, Basavaraj of CPI (M), DSS leaders Shambulingswamy, Javarappa, Puttaswamy, Shivanna, Nele Hinnale’s Gopal and others were present.