Tumakuru, 13 Jan

Tension prevailed at the Mahatma Gandhi Sports Complex in Tumakuru after the BJP alleged that the Congress sought to rename it after State Home Minister G Parameshwara, thereby removing Gandhi's name.

However, Parameshwara called the BJP’s charge a lie. He asked how the Congress can replace the Gandhi’s name when it is fighting to retain the name the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) scheme.

He said his supporters wanted to name a shed, which they developed as an indoor stadium, after him. However, on Monday, BJP workers raised slogans against the Congress government and Parameshwara and protested at the entrance of the stadium, demanding the nameplate be removed.

Police were deployed in large numbers to prevent any law-and-order situation. Several BJP workers were taken into custody. Meanwhile, BJP MLAs Suresh Gowda and Jyothi Ganesh visited the spot and held discussions with Superintendent of Police Ashok KV.