Excise scam allegation: Bhajans, sloganeering mark Opposition's overnight protest in Assembly
Bengaluru (PTI): Bhajans, religious chants, and sloganeering dominated the overnight agitation carried out by Opposition BJP and JD(S) MLAs inside the Karnataka Assembly premises.
The BJP and JD(S) MLAs have been staging protests, demanding Excise Minister R B Timmapur's resignation, since Tuesday night.
The Opposition has alleged widespread corruption in the Excise Department, saying that bribe is being demanded for issuing liquor licences.
Opposition leader R Ashoka alleged that there was a scam to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore in the department.
He also alleged that the money was being used by the ruling Congress to fund the party in the poll-bound states.
The recent trigger was the arrest of Excise Deputy Commissioner of the Bengaluru Urban District Jagadeesh Naik and two other officials by the Lokayukta sleuths, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh on January 16.
According to Lokayukta officials, they were accused of demanding Rs 80 lakh to issue CL-7 (Hotels & Boarding Houses) and micro brewery licence.
While replying to the Opposition’s charges, the minister said that he had taken steps to reduce corruption in his department. He also said that "corruption is not a new phenomenon in my department".
Timmapur has also declined the BJP's demand for his resignation, saying no ministers during the BJP government had ever stepped down.
The BJP leaders held a demonstration on the steps outside the Assembly hall, and they later slept inside the Assembly.
Playing tambourines, the MLAs raised slogans demanding Timmapur's resignation.
They also sang devotional chants like 'Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram'.
The opposition MLAs also held a meeting to draw their next course of action.
In the morning, some MLAs, including BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, who represents Shikaripura Assembly constituency, did exercises and went for a walk on the Vidhana Soudha premises.
The BJP MLAs have said they will continue their agitation inside the Assembly until Timmapur resigns.
VIDEO | Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition R Ashoka on night-long protest by BJP, JD(S) MLAs inside the Vidhana Soudha, says, "We have done Dharna in the Assembly of Karnataka because in liquor lobby, and liquor minister, Thimmapur looted 6,000 crores. This is not my statement, this… pic.twitter.com/6vB5dwUpkx
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Siddaramaiah, I will abide by Cong high command decision on leadership issue, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will abide by any decision takeb by the Congress high command on the leadership issue in the state.
Speaking to reporters after returning from Delhi, the Congress state president said, he has full faith in the party leadership and that it would take an approapriate decision at the appropriate time.
The remarks comes amid speculations within the party and political circles about a possible leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, when the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in the Karnataka are announced.
"I will not speak about political issues before the media. I have already said that when the time comes you will get to know. So I will not tell you," Shivakumar said in response to a question on discussions with the Congress high command during his Delhi visit over the last couple of days.
He asserted that there are no issues within the party, and whatever has been already decided will take place accordingly.
Responding to a question on senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi's reported statement about internal differences, the Deputy CM said, "nothing like that, they (high command) will do what they have to do at the appropriate time."
"There are no issues, we have faith in our party, they will do what they have to," he added.
Asked about the issue of leadership change as the government is about to complete three years in office, Shivakumar said, "... I have never discussed this issue. The CM and I have both said that we will accept whatever and whenever the high command decides, and we will abide by it."
He declined to comment when asked whether any "good news" can be expected by his birthday on May 15.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025. The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
Responding to a question on the BJP's criticism against the Congress government over its decision on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes, alleging injustice to several communities and questioning its intent behind the revised quota formula, Shivakumar said the BJP could not do anything on internal reservation while in power, but the Congress has kept its promise.
"We have found a solution and tried to do justice to all sections among SCs. We have fulfilled the promise made and every one should go together," he said.
Shivakumar warned his party workers against erecting flex banners for his birthday on May 15.
"For May 15, I want to tell everyone that no one should put up flex banners or advertisements for my birthday. If flex are installed I will ensure that cases are registered by authorities against those responsible, whether they are party workers or followers....no one should put such things on roads, this is my personal request," he said, adding that he has asked commissioners of the city corporations to register cases and impose heavy fines.
