From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 21: Continuing their dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Vidhana Soudha premises on Friday, the combined opposition of BJP and JD(S) MLAs accused the Siddaramaiah Government and Speaker U T Khader of misusing funds allocated for SC/STs to finance the ruling party's guarantees. The dharna was initiated after the suspension of 10 BJP MLAs for unruly and disorderly behavior in the Assembly.

"This is an anti-dalit government," said former chief ministers Basavaraj Bommai and H D Kumaraswamy of BJP and JD(S) respectively. They expressed their dissatisfaction that the dharna and the act of hurling papers at the Speaker's podium on Monday occurred when Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani, a Scheduled Caste representative, was presiding.

Bommai and Kumaraswamy criticized the diversion of funds meant for the welfare of Dalits and also claimed that people's lives have become difficult under Congress rule. They pointed out that the law and order situation has collapsed, and farmers are facing distress.

The BJP and JD(S) leaders further alleged that the Siddaramaiah government has become Number One in corruption and criticized the deployment of IAS officers to receive opposition leaders who had visited Bengaluru for the two-day opposition party conclave.

Both leaders of the opposition parties claimed that the Siddaramaiah government has lost its popularity within two months.