Congress MP Ivan D’Souza on Monday (August 19) threatened a “Bangladesh-like fate” to Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot for approving the inquiry of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah into alleged irregularities in land allotment by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). He demanded that the governor withdraw his order and said if he does not do so or the country’s president does not compel him to do so, Gehlot will suffer the same fate as Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was forced to flee the country following violent student protests. The mob had entered the prime minister’s palace in Dhaka soon after Hasina left the place and fled to India.
“If the governor does not withdraw his order or the president does not force him to do so, then the governor of Karnataka will face the same fate as the prime minister of Bangladesh who had to leave the country. Our next protest will be at the governor’s office,” D’Souza said.
Congress leaders and workers staged dharnas, marches and rallies in front of district headquarters, holding placards condemning the actions and shouting slogans against the Governor.
Protests in different parts of Karnataka
Demonstrations were held in various parts of the state including Bengaluru, Udupi, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Tumakuru and Mysuru.
Deputy Prime Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also chairman of the state Congress, led the protests in the local Freedom Park in the presence of several ministers of the Siddaramaiah cabinet, which was seen as a show of force.
“The governor is turning an empty facade into a big scandal. This is a murder of democracy and we will protest against it,” Shivakumar said on Sunday.
BJP holds dharna
The BJP led by its state chief BY Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament R Ashoka held a dharna near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Vidhana Soudha premises, where the legislature and secretariat are located, demanding the resignation of the chief minister.
BJP leaders said Siddaramaiah had no moral right to continue as chief minister and he should resign to pave the way for a transparent and unbiased investigation. Former chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda was among those taking part in the dharna.
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