Chair hurled at Somanna during foundation stone-laying ceremony in Koppal

The foundation stone-laying ceremony for a railway overbridge at Hitnal village in Koppal district on Monday witnessed disturbance for some time after a group of Congress workers protested against what they say was breach of protocol.

The protesters objected to the dropping of names of MP K. Rajashekar Hitnal and Kannada and Culture Minister and Koppal district in-charge Shivaraj Tangadagi from the invitation card for the programme.

The protest escalated into a scuffle, during which a chair is said to have been hurled in the direction of Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna.

However, security personnel intervened and prevented any harm to the Minister.

The protesters also blocked the Minister’s vehicle and raised slogans, forcing him to leave the venue immediately after his arrival.

Reacting to the incident, Mr. Somanna told presspersons that the entire cost of the project is being borne by the Union government. He denied any violation of protocol and said that the disturbance was created deliberately.

The railway overbridge is being constructed at a cost of ₹27 crore in the place of Level Crossing No 77, connecting Hitnal, Munirabad and Ginigera.