A large number of Congress workers and members from cross-sections of the society took out a procession and staged a demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Monday in protest against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dropping Satish L. Jarkiholi from his ministry.
The protest was organised by Satish Jarkiholi Abhimanigala Balaga and District Congress Workers, which was led by some of the senior party leaders.
The Balaga members, who submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the office of the Deputy Commissioner, said though they were happy that Ramesh L. Jarkiholi got into the Cabinet, the injustice done to Mr. Satish Jarkiholi was not acceptable. They said considering the vastness of the State’s largest district, governments in the past had ensured two to three Ministers for Belagavi.
They said the Chief Minister should retain Mr. Satish considering his services for the development of the city and also in creating awareness against superstition and exploitation, besides upholding human rights. The Congress leadership could not ignore the contribution of Mr. Satish in the party as his presence would help the party win more seats in the district in the next Assembly elections.
The Balaga members said they would be compelled to launch an aggressive agitation if Mr. Satish was not taken back into the ministry.
