Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Apr 16: Alleging that the central BJP government is engaging in divisive politics and misusing democratic institutions such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Income Tax Department (IT) to suppress the voices of opposition leaders, the Udupi District Congress Committee organized a protest in front of the income tax office at Adi Udupi. The protest was held under the leadership of the Udupi District Congress Committee and witnessed participation from several prominent Congress leaders and party workers. 

The Congress leaders alleged that the central government is using its agencies to supress the opposition leaders and alleged that the ED filing chargesheet against Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi is an alleged suppression move by the central government.

Addressing the protest M A Gaffur said "National Herald was founded during the national independence struggle. Being the president of the national herald trust, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders have managed the workings. No one filed any complaints against the trust stating of misconduct in the workings either to ED or to any central government agencies. But the central government has provoked the ED to conduct investigation against national herald trust."

Manjunath Bhandary, MLC addressing the protest said, "The newspaper was begun with a motto of freedom to the nation. Indira Gandhi sacrificed her ornaments to the nation. By using ED the central government is trying to oppress the opposition. The BJP is trying to create fear among the opposition. In 1978 when fake propaganda was used against Indira Gandhi, the whole nation had responded against the BJP, the same might repeat. The BJP files cases against opposition leaders and within no time of these leaders joining the BJP all their cases will be abolished."

Key leaders present at the protest included Udupi District Congress committee president Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, MLC and KPCC working president Manjunath Bhandary, KPCC vice president MA Gafoor, Udupi District Congress committee working president Kishan Hegde Kolkebailu, and Congress leaders Dinesh Hegde Molahalli, Prasad Raj Kanchan, Block Congress committee presidents Ramesh Kanchan, Shubhad Rao, Gopinath Bhat, Aravind Poojary, Pradeep Shetty, Naveen Chandra Suvarna, Raghavendra Shetty and others.

Members of the District Congress Committee, block Congress committee, Mahila Congress, Youth Congress, and a large number of party workers were also in attendance. Together, they raised slogans condemning the actions of the central government and expressed their strong dissent.