Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Feb 17: Karnataka home minister Araga Jnanendra on Thursday February 17 said that no question of booking rural development minister K S Eshwarappa for treason for the latter's statement on hoisting the saffron flag at Red Fort instead of the Tricolour.
Speaking to media persons, Jnanendra directed his ire at the Gincress and supported Eshwarappa.
"What kind of crime has Eshwarappa committed that befits the demand for his resignation? If he has committed any wrong, he will resign on his own. Why should he be booked for treason?" he questioned. He said that the Congressmen had in fact insulted the national flag by bringing it into the Assembly.
The Congress, criticizing Eshwarappa for his controversial statement about hoisting the saffron flag, has been demanding his resignation. The Assembly session had witnessed a commotion on this issue on Wedneday February 16.
Tempers had flared and Karnataka Pradesh Congreess Committee president D K Shivakumar and Eshwarappa had hurled expletives at each other in the singular. In the meantime, the Congress had entered the well of the house with the national flag.
The home minister felt that Hijab controversy has now become a hard nut to crack for the Congress and that they are trying to shift the focus to Eshwarappa to come out of this. "In spite of what the Congressmen do or carry on struggle, we will not budge from our stand. They are unnecessarily spoiling the time of the house which is wrong," he stated.
He asserted that Eshwarappa will not be booked for treason and that he will not be asked to resign.
Jnanendra said that this is a warning bell for the country and the country will face peril if evil forces are not crushed now. He said that reports from agencies have spoken about the handiwork of certain organizations and that recommendation for action against them has been made to the centre. He added that necessary information along with documents are being submitted to the central government.
The home minsiter said that the centre has taken this issue in all seriousness. "Because of these poeople, the mental condition of the children is being disturbed. Today you will want to come to school with Hijabs. On another day, you may demand change of syllabus. These are fundamentalist elements. Yesterday, a girl student said she does not need court order. I was pained to hear that," he said.
The minister said that religious power behind these acts have to be crushed. He blamed the perpetrators of the disturbances of not wanting peace but blood shed.
Shivamogga: Youth Congress workers gherao BJP office demanding Eshwarappa's resignation
Protesting against the statement of Eshwarappa, Youth Congress workers led by their leader, Manohar, tried to mob the residence of Eshwarappa but the police took the protestors into custody. Speaking on the occasion, Manohar demanded to arrest Eshwarappa and to dismiss him from the ministry.
The protestors also tried to lay siege to the BJP office in Shivamogga.
The Youth Congress workers staged a protest opposite the district BJP office. They charged Eshwarappa of insulting the national flag and issuing statements in violation of decency and decorum in the assembly. They also demanded to drop Eshwarappa from the ministry.
Later, the workers tried to lay siege to the BJP office. The police blocked them by using barricades near the BJP office. The police stopped the Congressmen and took them into custody.
Congress leader Ranganath, Youth Congress district president Girish, other leaders like Praveen, Lokesh, Nitin, Kumaresh etc have been taken into custody by the police.