Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, April 5: A protest by the Karnataka BJP unit over the suicide of a party worker turned into a dramatic scene in Kushalnagar, Kodagu district, after the Congress-led state government rejected the BJP's demand to include the names of two Congress MLAs in the FIR.

The protest began when BJP leaders tried to stage a demonstration with the body of the deceased worker, Vinay Somaiah, in front of the Deputy Superintendent of Police’s (DySP) office. However, the police acted quickly, detaining all involved.

Prominent BJP leaders, including State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Wadiyar, former MP Pratap Simha, and former Speaker K.G. Bopaiah, were among those detained after a tense exchange with the police.

The detained leaders were escorted away in police vehicles, while hundreds of BJP workers were also detained and transported in buses. During the arrest, Vijayendra strongly criticised the Congress government, labelling it a “goonda government”.

He also accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of being arrogant, stating, “We will not leave the matter here. The two MLAs are guilty. We know how to get justice. They are close confidants of CM Siddaramaiah. We will approach the judiciary. The case should be handed over to the CBI.”

Vijayendra further alleged, “The police are acting as puppets of the Congress government. All police stations have turned into Congress party offices. Let the Congress-led government commit atrocities – we will not back down. We will seek justice through the courts.”

The controversy centres around the death of Vinay Somaiah, a BJP worker from Madikeri, who was found dead by suicide at his office in Bengaluru on Friday. In a note left behind, Somaiah reportedly accused Congress leaders of harassment and named MLAs A.S. Ponnanna, Manthar Gowda, and Congress leader Thennira Maheena as responsible for his decision. However, the Hennur police only named Thennira Maheena in the FIR, which led to the BJP’s protest demanding that the two MLAs be included.

In response to the BJP’s demand, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated, “That cannot be done. We cannot fulfil the BJP’s demands. The investigation will continue, and those found guilty will be punished.” Siddaramaiah maintained that the investigation should proceed in a lawful manner without political interference.

After the detentions, the family of the deceased BJP worker, Vinay Somaiah, took his body to his native village of Gonimaruru for the final rites. The situation continues to stir political tensions in the state, with both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP accusing each other of politicising the issue.