Bengaluru: Around 500 JD(S) workers participated in the ‘Rajbhavan Chalo’ protest against the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) called by former prime minister Deve Gowda on Monday. The protests started with the agitators gathering at Maurya circle at around 11 am and taking out the peaceful march till Freedom Park.
Heavy security arrangements were made by the Central and West Division police at the Maurya circle, all the way to Freedom Park. Former CM and JD(S) State President H.D. Kumaraswamy visited the protest site at Freedom Park where AAP workers have been on an indefinite fast and expressed his full support. He said the government had become insensitive to the problems of people. JD(S) supremo, H.D. Devegowda said that he has never in his life seen such bad administration and urged the AAP to provide a platform to all those who wish to fight against the present government led by Siddaramaiah.
Freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy said he has already written to the CM urging him not to dilute the powers of Lokayukta under any circumstance and advised him to take every step to save the institution. He said Cabinet decisions are not binding on the people of the state and several anti-people decisions have been reversed in the past due to protests. Their demands were to dismantle the ACB with immediate effect and reinstate the autonomy and powers of the Lokayukta police besides appointing a person of integrity and honesty to the post of the Lokayukta immediately.
‘Resting’ Governor makes Gowda wait, refuses to meet him
To the surprise and anger of the Janata Dal (S), Governor Vajubhai Vala allegedly made party supremo and former Prime Minister, H.D. Devegowda, wait 45 minutes , and then refused to meet him when he went to the Rajbhavan on Monday to submit a memorandum against the state government’s decision on establishing the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Vajubhai Vala
Mr. Deve Gowda, who addressed a protest rally near Freedom Park, left with JD(S) MLAs for his 2 pm appointment with Mr Vala soon afterwards , but on arrival at the Rajbhavan, the Secretary to the Governor kept him waiting 45 minutes, according to party workers.
His accompanying MLAs were not even allowed inside by the security, they said. Later Rajbhavan officials reportedly informed Mr. Gowda that the Governor was “ resting” and couldn’t meet him. Mr. Gowda, who had by then waited till 3 pm , left in a huff, even as Janata Dal (S) MLAs G.T. Devegowda, Gopalaiah, and Y.S.V. Datta , who were waiting outside, raised slogans against Mr Vala for humiliating their leader.
“Rajbhavan has become a resthouse, the Governor is leading a lavish lifestyle here reminiscent of the British raj. Although the British have left the India, it appears the system continues. It is not Rajbhavan, but Gujarat Bhavan,” charged Mr Datta in an angry outburst.
Mr. Gowda too said he was disappointed with the way he was treated by Rajbhavan officials and was angry that his MLAs were not allowed inside with him. “It was not right of the security officials not to allow my MLAs inside. They are not terrorists and this is Karnataka and not Gujarat,” Mr. Gowda said, making his displeasure clear at Mr Vala’s treatment of his partymen.
Earlier, addressing the party workers protest rally near Freedom Park, he promised to abolish the Anti - Corruption Bureau (ACB) if the Janata Dal (Secular) came to power in 2018 and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumara swamy hit out at Speaker, Kagodu Thimmappa for not allowing him to speak up against corruption in the Congress government in the Assembly.
