JOIN USDistrict BJP staged a protest against the state government in front of the DC’s office here on Tuesday over DySP M K Ganapathi’s suicide case. Addressing the protesters, MP Nalin Kumar said there is ‘Ravana Rajya’ in the state and the government has been supporting criminals.
Honest officials such as SI Mallikarjun Bande who was killed during an encouter with a rowdy, IAS officer D K Ravi, DySP’s Kallappa Handibag and M K Ganapathi are forced to take extreme steps.
The last three years of the state government has been a reign of demons, he charged and sought the filing of an FIR on Minister K J George and two police officials, whom Ganapathi has named in the video footage prior to his suicide. Now, efforts are being done to tamper the evidence.
The chief minister is directly responsible for the death of Ganapathi. Hence, he should immediately step down. There is no guarantee that the CID probe will be transparent. Hence, the case should be handed over to CBI. If not, the BJP will observe Dakshina Kannada bandh, he said and added that the fight will continue till the government falls down.
Addressing the protest, BJP State Vice President Sulochana G K Bhat said the government is weakening the police department by harassing honest officials and forcing them to take extreme steps. Mallikarjun Bande, Anupama Shenoy, Kallappa Handibag and M K Ganapathi were harassed by politicians and higher officials. The state BJP is carrying out protest in all district centres under the leadership of former chief minister Yeddyurappa, she added.
BJP leader Rukmaya Poojary said the state has been marred by maladministration by the Congress and Congress-free Karnataka is the need of the hour. If police officials do not have protection, what about commoners, he questioned.
BJP State Minority Morcha President Rahim Ucchil and BJP district unit president Sanjiv Matandur also spoke. They charged that CM’s close aides, like Marigowda, are directing the government these days and honest officials are targetted.
Barricades crossed
The protesters crossed the barricades put up by the police to enter the DC’s office premises and later staged a protest in front of the DC’s office complex. They urged the DC to come out of the office and receive their memorandum.
They also raised slogans against the chief minister, K J George and the DC. The situation turned tense as the DC did not come even after half an hour. The protestors tried to enter the DC’s office. However, the police prevented them.
Later, ADC Kumar came to the spot and received the memorandum from the protestoers, which was addressed to the governor.
BJP leaders Umanath Kotian, Jagadish Adhikari, Padmanabha Kottari, former Minister Krishna J Palemar, ZP President Meenakshi Shanthigodu and Vice President Kasturi Panja took part in the protest.