From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Apr 15: The 24-hour dharna in front of Vidhana Soudha demanding minister KS Eshwarappa;s arrest in the contractor’s suicide case launched by State Congress leaders under the leadership of KPCC Chief DK Shivakumar and party’s Opposition leaders in Assembly and Council Siddaramaiah and BK Hariprasad and other legislators from Thursday continued on Friday also, despite both the days being public holidays on account of Dr BR Ambedkar Jayanti and Good Friday respectively.

Speaking to media representatives at the protest site, Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah alleged that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai was ‘protecting a tainted minister’ by openly declaring that Eshwarappa has not committed any crime to be arrested.

“It is evident that the 40% commission or kickbacks demanded by Eshwarappa and his aides from the BJP activist contractor Santhosh Patil was the reason for the suicide. The deceased contractor, national secretary of Hindu Yuva Vahini, has sent Whatsapp messages to the media. The deceased person’s widow and Belagavi district’s local grama panchayat president have also made similar statements. The deceased person’s brother has also alleged the same in his complaint to the police, which has already been registered,’’ Shivakumar said.

Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah wondered how the Chief Minister could declare even before the police commencing the investigation that Eshwarappa has not committed any crime and in such a situation, how can police conduct a free and fair investigation, he asked and pointed out that it would definitely influence the police investigation.

Bommai had served as Home Minister and should know the implications of his statement, Shivakumar said.

The KPCC Chief asserted that the Congress party is not demanding Eshwarappa’s resignation. "We want the minister to be arrested,’’ he said criticising the State Government for trying to protect the minister by not registering a case under the anti-corruption law, especially the police case already registered 40% commission.

“Our protest and fight against Eshwarappa will be continued till he is arrested,’’ he declared and demanding an investigation monitored by a sitting High Court judge.

• Contractor’s suicide: Cong leaders need not become investigating officers, says Bommai
• Udupi: Contractor Santhosh Patil case – Two teams formed for intense probe
• Karnataka contractor's suicide case: Jarkiholi hints at Congress conspiracy
• Udupi: Santosh suicide case - Two friends in police custody?
• Resignation not enough, Eshwarappa must be arrested: Karnataka Congress
• Contractor suicide case: Minister Eshwarappa announces resignation
• Contractor suicide: Cong plan to lay siege to CM’s residence thwarted, police arrest leaders
• Contractor suicide: Decision on Eshwarappa's resignation after report, says CM
• Bengaluru: ‘Santhosh Patil a Congress worker, 40% commission Cong’s tool-kit’, says BJP
• Udupi: Contractor's body handed over to family with assurance of fair trial
• Pressure mounts on minister Eshwarappa for resignation over death of contractor
• Cong urges Governor to sack Eshwarappa from Cabinet, register case, file FIR
• Mangaluru: No knowledge of contractor Patil suicide – Minister Ashwanth Narayan
• Udupi: Cong protests in front of lodge demanding Eshwarappa's arrest
• Contractor suicide: Congress attacks PM Modi over 'corruption' in Karnataka
• Mangaluru: Santhosh Patil's death - Bommai assures impartial probe
• DKS demands Contractor’s suicide probed as murder, arrest of Eshwarappa
• Udupi: Contractor ends life, holds minister Eshwarappa responsible for extreme step