BJP protests across state demanding DK Shivakumar to resign
Bengaluru (PTI): The BJP on Tuesday held protests in various parts of the state against Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's purported comments regarding changing the Constitution to accommodate four per cent reservation for Muslims in the state.
However, the senior congress leader on Monday denied making any such comments and claimed that he was "misquoted".
Shivakumar's response came in the wake of the BJP forcing repeated adjournments in the Lok Sabha on Monday over his alleged remarks on the matter.
Condemning his purported statement, protests were held today by the BJP workers and its members in various parts of the state -- Mandya, Chikkaballapura, Mysuru, Kalaburagi-- accusing the Karnataka government of doing "appeasement politics". Protesters sought for Shivakumar's apology and demanded his immediate resignation.
In Bengaluru, protests were held in Basavanagudi, Padmanabhanagar and Rajarajeshwari Nagar here.
"Protests were held condemning DK Shivakumar's statement regarding changing the Constitution. Protests were held in all our mandals, at district level across the state. Our MLAs, MLCs, former ministers and senior party leaders like R Ashoka and B Y Vijayendra too joined the protests," a senior BJP functionary said.
In Mysuru, the protest led by BJP MLA TS Srivatsa was held in front of Ambedkar statue, which falls under Ashokapuram police station limits.
Chanting "Jai Bhim" slogans, the party workers garlanded Ambedkar statue and accused Shivakumar and the Congress party of being "Anti-Dalit" and "Anti-Constitution".
Speaking to reporters here, the BJP MLA demanded sacking of Deputy Chief Minister and alleged that the statement made by Shivakumar was "Anti-Constitutional". He demanded that a case should be filed against him suo motu and that he should be arrested for his purported statement.
In Bidar, the BJP workers burnt effigy's of Shivakumar in city's Ambedkar circle and raised slogans against the Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Former Union Minister Bhagwanth Khuba who participated in the protest along with other BJP leaders condemned "the statement".
In Hubballi, the protest was led by BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginkai at city's Sangolli Rayanna Circle.
Shouting slogans against Shivakumar, the protesters hit portrait of Shivakumar with slippers.
In Kalaburagi, a massive protest was held by the BJP workers from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle to the District Collector's office opposing the four per cent reservation given for Muslims in public contracts and condemning Shivakumar's alleged statement.
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Friday passed a Bill to provide four per cent reservation for Muslims in public contracts, amidst strong protests from opposition BJP.
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Justice Varma transferred to Allahabad HC amid probe over discovery of cash at his home
New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI): The government Friday notified the transfer of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma to his parent Allahabad High Court, the order coming amid a row over alleged discovery of a huge amount of cash from his official residence here. The Law Ministry issued a notification announcing his transfer.
Recommending his repatriation to the government on Monday, the Supreme Court Collegium had asserted the move was separate from an in-house probe ordered by the top court over the alleged discovery of cash from Justice Varma's residence after a fire incident around 11.35 on the night of Holi, March 14.
Following the incident, Chief Justice of India had directed the Delhi High Court to withdraw judicial work from the judge.
On March 21, the Supreme Court said Delhi High Court Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya had initiated an in-house inquiry against Justice Varma and there was a separate proposal to transfer the judge.
Justice Upadhyaya was stated to have commenced the inquiry prior to a meeting of the apex court Collegium on March 20.
On March 22, the CJI uploaded on the SC website the inquiry report by Chief Justice Upadhyaya, and constituted the three-member committee to conduct an in-house inquiry.
Two days later, the Supreme Court Collegium formally recommended to the Centre Justice Varma's transfer.
"The Supreme Court Collegium in its meetings held on March 20 and 24, 2025 has recommended the repatriation of Justice Yashwant Varma, Judge, High Court of Delhi, to the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad," an SC resolution on that day read.
The next day, the three-member SC committee visited Justice Varma's residence, commencing its inquiry into the matter.
Justice Varma has denounced any insinuation and said no cash was ever placed at the site either by him or any of his family members.
Earlier today, the top court rejected a PIL seeking Delhi Police to register an FIR over over the alleged discovery of burnt wads of cash from his official residence, calling the petition "premature".
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said the in-house inquiry was in progress and there would be several options open to the Chief Justice of India after the probe concludes.
Members of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association have been protesting against the Collegium's recommendation to repatriate Justice Varma to the Allahabad HC. The protesting lawyers met Chief Justice Khanna in Delhi Thursday.
Separately, the government also notified the repatriation of Delhi High Court judge Chandra Dhari Singh to the Allahabad High Court.
The Collegium had in November last year recommended Justice Singh's repatriation.
In another order, Justice Arindam Sinha was transferred from the Orissa High Court to the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended his transfer earlier this month.
