Why are ministers taking part in protests? asks BJP MLC Ayanur Manjunath

BJP MLC Ayanur Manjunath on Monday said there was an increasing trend where ministers, instead of taking representation on behalf of the government, were themselves protesting against the government.

Manjunath was hinting at the ongoing protests for ST reservation for the Kuruba community. Rural Development Minister K S Eshwarappa is among those spearheading the protest. “Everyone has a right to protest. I am not questioning the legitimacy of the reservation demand. But of late, we are seeing ministers taking part in protests. They can go take representation and give assurance to resolve it. However, it is against the constitution to go protest themselves,” he said.

The senior MLC was speaking in the Legislative Council during the motion of thanks to the Governor’s speech.

Manjunath also raised concern that the country was slipping in upholding constitutional values. There is an undue interference of legislators in transfers at the grassroots level officers, he observed.

He also criticised present political trends. “Irrespective of the political party, I sometimes feel like we have lost freedom of expression in the name of party whips,” he said.