Protest in Sullia

Sadananda Gowda had to step down as chief minister for not bringing money to the party fund and for discouraging corruption in the party, said Nalin Kumar Kodthuguli, president of Sullia Advocates’ Associati

on.

Addressing a protest organised by the Citizens’ Forum against the ouster of Gowda, in Sullia on Monday, Kodthuguli criticised the BJP high command’s move to dethrone Gowda and install Jagadish Shettar as chief minister.

Expressing surprise over Advani succumbing to the pressure tactics of the corrupt in the party, he said the BJP had now turned into a casteist party.

The people of the State should give a fitting reply to the BJP, he added.

Block Congress president Venkappa Gowda said there were vested interests in Sullia who were working against Gowda.

Taking a dig at the BJP high command’s decision, JD(S) district unit president M B Sadashiva said its intervention in the State politics had dealt a blow to democracy.

Barring a few, none of the BJP and RSS leaders took part in the protest.

After the protest, a five-minute rasta roko was staged.