BJP calls for Karnataka bandh tomorrow
Farmers, pro-Kannada organizations extend no support
Bengaluru, May 27: The BJP has called for ‘voluntary Karnataka bandh’ excluding Bengaluru tomorrow against the JDS-Congress coalition government alleging that Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has failed to keep his words on waiving off the farmers loan even after 24 hours of taking charge as the CM.
But the farmers and pro-Kannada organizations have not extended their support to this bandh called by the BJP. Hotel owners, businessmen, petrol bunk owners, lorry owners, auto drivers and others have clarified that they would not participate in the bandh. There is no holiday for schools and colleges. KSRTC and BMTC buses would ply as usual,. Auto Rickshaw and taxi service would also be there in the city. As per the court direction, there is no provision for bandh, police officers said.
In view of this, except Bengaluru, the Karnataka bandh in Coastal region, Hubballi, Dharwad, Bellary, Belagavi and other cities would be a symbolic one.
BJP leader Ravi Kumar said that Kumaraswamy has cheated the farmers without fulfilling his promise. So, the people should observe bandh voluntarily. Believing the promises made in the election manifesto, the people have believed the JDS and given more seats than expected. Now, Kumaraswamy is telling that he could not waive off the farmers loans which is not acceptable, he said.
Condemning Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s anti-farmers stand, the BJP has called for Karnataka bandh. Thousands of party workers and himself would participate in the bandh. They would not hesitate to conduct the bandh even if the government caned them or put them before bars, said MLA B Sriramulu.
Meanwhile, leaders of state sugarcane growers association, Chamber of Kannada Films, farmers association and private vehicles owners association have denied their support to the bandh called by BJP. They said that they would not support this unilateral decision taken without discussing with the Chief Minister.
- No holiday for schools and colleges
- Cinemas and petrol bunks would function as usual
- KSRTC and other government transport system would function as usual
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BJP hatching Op Lotus, alleges Shivakumar as 2 held for trying to bribe Odisha Cong MLAs
Bengaluru (PTI): Two people were arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe Odisha Congress MLAs, who are staying in a resort near here, as part of BJP's "Operation Lotus," Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar claimed on Sunday.
He alleged that the BJP has planned "Operation Lotus'" and was offering Rs five crore to each Odisha MLAs, who were flown here ahead of the March 16 Rajya Sabha polls in that state.
Eight MLAs, along with some other Odisha Congress unit office bearers are camping in the resort.
They have been flown to Bengaluru with apprehensions of horse trading during the Rajya Sabha elections in favour of ruling BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate.
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Shivakumar, also Congress' Karnataka chief, said two persons were apprehended at the private resort for attempting to buy over Odisha Congress MLAs.
"Four people have come. One local person named Suresh helped them; they contacted him (an MLA) online. In the morning they picked up our MLA. Our MLA told us that they offered Rs five crore for each vote. He (Congress MLA) said he is not for horse-trading," Shivakumar told reporters.
"The cheque and everything should be seized. A complaint will be filed at the police station. After that, whatever legal action is required will be taken," he added.
Shivakumar said those caught have accepted that they came for the "same purpose".
"They have admitted it and the process is on to trace others. This is the great Operation Lotus carried out by BJP friends in Karnataka," the DCM said.
Operation Lotus is a term used by Congress to claim about attempts to topple a non-BJP government by the BJP whose party symbol is lotus. It also involves getting the votes on MLAs from other parties for their Rajya Sabha candidate.
According to a Congress source, one of the persons involved in the horse trading is a defeated Lok Sabha candidate.
A source shared the photograph and blank cheques as well.
"They tried to negotiate with the Congress MLA by offering a blank cheque.
Both have been caught and handed over to the Bidadi police," the source said.
Police sources said that they have been arrested.
According to Congress sources, the Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha will take place on Monday. The BJP has fielded one more candidate, which raised apprehensions of horse-trading.
Congress and the Biju Janata Dal have fielded a candidate.
