Bengaluru | Workers of the ruling Congress and the BJP took to the streets in Karnataka on Monday over Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot giving sanction for an investigation against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with alleged irregularities in land allotment by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
Congress leaders and workers staged dharnas, foot-marches and rallies in district headquarters, holding placards denouncing the action and raising slogans against the Governor. BJP leaders staged a protest here seeking the chief minister's resignation.
Demonstrations were held in various parts of the state including Bengaluru, Udupi, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Tumakuru and Mysuru.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the State Congress chief, led the protests at 'Freedom Park' here with several ministers of the Siddaramaiah Cabinet in attendance in what appeared to be a show of strength.
"The Governor is making a case out of nothing. This is a murder of democracy and we will protest it," Shivakumar had said on Sunday.
During a protest in Mangaluru, Congress leader Ivan D'souza claimed that Governor Gehlot might be forced to flee Raj Bhavan -- similar to what deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina did earlier this month.
"Gehlot, Get out. He has to go back. In case he is not recalled by the President (Droupadi Murmu)...like the way Bangladesh Prime Minister fled in the middle of night... the same circumstance would befall the Governor's office," MLC D'Souza said.
Hasina, 76, resigned and fled to India on August 5 following a massive protest by students against a controversial quota system in government jobs.
The BJP state president Vijayendra flayed D'Souza's comment in a post on ‘X’.
He said: "Isn’t it a disservice & insult to the great founding fathers of our Constitution, particularly Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, that the Congress seeks inspiration from violence-stricken Bangladesh & NOT the values enshrined in the very Constitution that our esteemed leaders painstakingly crafted?
"The actions of Congress leaders, who are attempting to incite unrest and attack the constitutional position of the Governor, reveal a deeply rooted authoritarian mindset-one that prioritizes power at the expense of our Democracy and Constitution.
"When corruption takes center stage, it is the people who suffer. The deteriorating law and order, coupled with misgovernance and the strong-arm tactics of the @INCKarnataka leadership, are clear indicators of this grim reality."
He demanded Director General of Police Alok Mohan to take strict action against D'Souza.
The BJP, led by Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka, held a dharna near Mahatma Gandhi's statue on the premises of 'Vidhana Soudha', which houses the Legislature and Secretariat, demanding the chief minister's resignation.
BJP leaders said Siddaramaiah has no moral right to continue as chief minister and he should quit to pave way for a transparent and unbiased investigation.
Former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda was among those who took part in the dharna.
