From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Feb18: The opposition Congress party, which has launched a day-night dharna against senior BJP leader as well as Rural Development Minister KS Eshwarappa for his controversial statement on hoisting the Sangh parivar’s saffron at the Red Fort, which is used for hoisting the national tricolour, in both houses of State Legislature since Thursday is continuing the agitation on Friday and has refused to heed the efforts of former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa as well as Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to call off the dharna.
The Congress members of both Legislative Assembly and Council continued the dharna and slept in the Houses after having dinner. The Congress MLAs and MLCs spent the morning by walking around the Vidhana Soudha and read the newspapers by sitting on the steps of Vidhana Soudha on Friday morning.
Both Yediyurappa and Bommai called on the protesting Congress legislators and made futile attempts to persuade them to call off the dharna.
"We are not demanding Eshwarappa’s resignation. Our demand is that he should be sacked from the Cabinet for insulting the national flag," Shivakumar told the media in the morning.
The KPCC Chief reminded the Chief Minister of his oath while assuming office to uphold the Constitution and protect the country’s honour. "Both the Chief Minister and the Governor, who have taken the oath to uphold the Constitutione and protect the country’s honour must discharge their sworn duty," he said pointing out that the "issue is not about Eshwarappa but respecting the national flag."
"Our fight and dharna is not against Eshwarappa or one between Congress and BJP. This is a matter of country’s freedom, Constitution and National flag," Shivakumar said.
The KPCC Chief refused to respond to Eshwarappa’s derogatory comments against his father and said the party is more concerned about India’s freedom, Constitution and National Tricolour. The struggle and sacrifices by our forefathers can never be forgotten. It is a matter of the self-respect of 135 crore citizens.
"We can never remain silent when national flag is insulted and sought to be replaced by saffron flag at the Red Fort. The Chief Minister is also responsible and guilty when national flag is sought to be replaced by saffron flag," he said.
Shivakumar refused to join issue with JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s criticism that Congress party did not protest or stage dharna over the floods and farmer issues and wasting time, and mentioned the JD(S) is free do voice its concerns. "We have been waging battles both inside and outside the legislature. We have shown what Congress is capable of in the Belagavi legislature session. Let JD(S) fight like an opposition party," he said.