The Karnataka Congress organised widespread protests in the state on Monday against Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, after the latter initiated an inquiry against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the MUDA case. The party, however, warned that things could turn out like what had happened with former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in case the centre did not recall the governor.
"If the Union government doesn't recall the Governor, we will launch an intense protest across the state. The Governor could face a situation akin to that of Bangladesh's former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. To compel his resignation, he may encounter circumstances similar to those in Bangladesh," said Congress MLC Ivan D'Souza at a protest in Mangaluru, in the Dakshina Kannada district.
Housing and Wakf Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmad Khan has said that the opposition cannot digest the second time elevation of Chief Ministers from denotified and OBC category, hence the conspiracies against Siddaramaiah.
He said, "We will fight this case in court of law, and we are confident that justice will be delivered to us. The BJP-JD(S) alliance cannot remove our Chief Minister from office. All of us are with Siddaramaiah. If unrest arises in the state, the Governor will be held responsible.".
Khan also maintained that 14 such sites had been alloted to Siddaramaiah's family during the BJP government's tenure. "They are trying to bring down the Congress government, but we believe in the judiciary. The BJP-JD(S) will not succeed in dethroning Siddaramaiah," he added.
In Mangaluru, Congress workers resorted to pelting stones at a private bus, blocked roads, and burnt tires as part of the protests.
The Transport Minister, while speaking in Bengaluru, has charged the BJP-led Union government with reducing the status of the Governor to a "clerk-like" position.
"Despite no allegation against the Chief Minister, they are trying to fabricate false reasons and doing conspiracy against him by reducing the status of Governor to a clerk-like position," said Reddy.
He further termed BJP as the "Bundle of Lies Party" and said that no one can beat them in telling lies.
"Under Hitler's regime in Germany, a minister was appointed to repeat the lies a hundred times till they were accepted as truth. The BJP is similarly attempting to make lies appear as truth by repeating them day in and day out on the social media and in front of the media," Reddy elaborated.
The Revenue Minister termed the Governor's actions as an insult to every Kannadiga. He said the state government had locked horns with the Union government over many issues, from taxes to Cauvery, Krishna, and Mahadayi; now, in the midst of all, the Governor has been implemented to unseat the government and depress the people of Karnataka.
Gowda further criticized the Governor as "unfit," and as an "agent" of the BJP. "He has neither honor nor dignity. He should leave the state," he insisted.
The protests in the state of Karnataka were seen led by Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar.
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