Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D. K. Shivakumar leading a delegation of Congress leaders to Raj Bhavan to protest against Karnataka Governor Thawaar Chand Gehlot permitting prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in Bengaluru on August 31, 2024.
As the Karnataka High Court examines the Governor’s sanction for the prosecution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah concerning alleged irregularities in site allotments by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), a significant protest took place on August 31. D. K. Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister, along with Ministers, legislators, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee leaders, marched to Raj Bhavan to demand action against political opponents.
The Congress leaders urged the Governor to approve the prosecution of prominent JD(S) and BJP members, including Union Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and former BJP MLAs Janardhan Reddy and Shashikala Jolle. They called for enforcement of Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), as recommended by the Karnataka Lokayukta police.
In their memorandum, the leaders also demanded the swift approval of 11 Bills recently passed by the State legislature, which are currently awaiting the Governor’s assent.
Before heading to Raj Bhavan, the delegation held a dharna at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the State Secretariat, emphasizing their concerns about the abuse of gubernatorial authority and perceived political bias. Their petition expressed alarm over the hastiness to grant sanction against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah while delaying action on Kumaraswamy’s case.
The Congress party claims that Kumaraswamy is under scrutiny for allegedly facilitating the illegal approval of a substantial mining lease in 2007, while the Governor has stalled prosecution efforts against Janardhan Reddy over discrepancies in his assets.
Moreover, the Governor has yet to sanction prosecution for former ministers Shashikala Jolle and Murugesh Nirani, despite evidence presented by the Lokayukta for both. The petition criticizes the Governor’s failure to act on corruption allegations, suggesting a troubling inconsistency in upholding justice.
“The Governor’s failure to act on these requests reflects a concerning disregard for constitutional duty,” the Congress statement asserted, vowing that citizens of Karnataka will not accept a Governor who neglects the fundamentals of justice and democracy.
In conclusion, the Congress party called for the Governor to fulfill his responsibilities without bias or political influence, adhering strictly to constitutional mandates.
