Congress launches state-wide protests; demands KSE arrest

By NT Correspondent

Ramanagara: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Saturday staged state-wide protests demanding the arrest of former minister KS Eshwarappa in the suicide case of contractor Santosh Patil.

The party also demanded that a case be filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Right now, the BJP bigwig is only being tried for aiding and abetting suicide.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah led protests in Chikamagalur on Saturday. He is set to make appearances in Hassan, Mandya, Chamarajnagar and Mysuru districts in the days to come. Former deputy chief minister G Parameshwara addressed protesters in Udupi and Mangaluru. KPCC president DK Shivkumar will be holding protests in Gadag, Haveri, Hubli-Dharwad and Shivamogga districts. Other KPCC leaders like Eshwar Khandre, Ramalinga Reddy, Salim Ahmed and Satish Jarkiholi also protested in various districts. The protests are set to continue till next Wednesday.

DK Shivkumar flagged off the series of protests from Ramanagara and took an aim against the BJP at the state and Centre. “When we went to meet Santosh’s family, his widow said: My husband used to sing praises of Modi and BJP as soon as he woke up, but now he’s dead. Santosh died because a work order (pertaining to his projects) was not made and he was not paid his rightful dues,” he said.

Guns trained on JD(S)
Shivkumar also suggested that JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda’s son Kumaraswamy and the BJP were in cahoots with each other. “Why did Mr Kumaraswamy not stand with us on the issue of cow slaughter? Why did he stand with the BJP in the case of Santosh’s suicide? Why did he say Eshwarappa need not resign?

“Are any Muslims and Christians forcefully converting any of us? Why didn’t you speak out against this? We are to ensure that we survive in politics we should practice politics of responsibility,” he said.

JD(S) launched its ‘Janata Jaldhare-Ganga Rath Yatra’ on Saturday.

The Congress leader added that he would support the JD(S) in their attempts to utilise the water resources of the state better. “If you want to do something good, I will surely support you. They (JDS) went to Mekedatu without us. That is fine by us. We have no objection to it. Let them succeed in bringing water to the state,” he added.