Bengaluru: Seeking to fend off the opposition onslaught, the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka on Wednesday announced a judicial probe into the alleged suicide by a DySP, which has put the ruling Congress in a tight corner.
As the issue rocked the Assembly since Monday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced in the House an enquiry by a judicial commission, which would come out with its report in six months.
With government refusing to budge on its demand for a CBI probe, both BJP and JDS began a day-night protest in the House insisting on an enquiry by the central agency and sacking of minister K J George, named by deceased official M K Ganapathy along with two top police officials for his extreme step.
After the CM's reply, BJP members made it clear they will protest until George is dropped and entered the well of the House, followed by JD(S) MLAs demanding that an FIR be lodged in connection with the case first.
Following this, Speaker K B Koliwad adjourned the House till tomorrow, but BJP and JD(S) remained in the Well. "We, both BJP and JD(S), will continue our day-night dharna inside the House, until our demands are met. Until George is dropped, FIR is registered and action is taken against the officials named," Opposition Leader Jagadish Shettar told reporters here at a joint press conference.
Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said this is a joint protest being staged by both BJP and JD(S). A similar protest is being planned by both parties in the legislative council as well.
Ganapathy (51) was found hanging from the ceiling fan in a room at a lodge in Madikeri on July 7, prior to which he gave an interview to a local TV channel, saying the minister and A M Prasad (IG-Intelligence) and Pranab Mohanty (IGP-Lokayukta) would be responsible "if anything happens to me." The case is currently being investigated by CID.
Earlier, in his marathon reply to the discussion on the alleged suicide, Siddaramaiah said "though we have full faith in CID and its investigation, government has decided to hand over the case to a judicial commission."
The commission, headed by a retired High Court judge, would complete the probe in six months and submit its report, he said. "We are voluntarily constituting a judicial enquiry commission in this case," he added.
