Inquiry: Ravi's family launches dharna

Stalemate on the issue continues in the legislature

With the State government turning down the Opposition demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of IAS officer D.K. Ravi, the deceased’s parents and family reached the portal of the Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday and launched a dharna in front of Kengal Hanumanthaiya statue categorically demanding a CBI probe.

In the meantime, stalemate continued in both Houses of the State legislature as the entire Opposition (BJP and JD-S) members refused to end their night-long dharna till the CBI probe was ordered. Amid slogan shouting by the Opposition, both Houses adjourned without transacting any business for the second consecutive day.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who along with Cabinet Ministers met the agitating family members, made every possible effort to mollify Ravi’s parents, Gowramma and Kariyappa, and brother D.K. Ramesh, to accept the CID probe, promising that the State police was efficient to conduct an impartial inquiry.

Sitting beside them on the steps, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the CBI probe would be considered after an interim report of the CID, expected in a few days. The Cabinet had to take a decision on ordering the CBI probe, he said.

While the parents rejected the Chief Minister’s offer and stuck to their demand, Ravi’s father-in-law Hanumantharayappa, who joined the agitation later, was convinced with Mr. Siddaramaiah’s assurance. A group of well-wishers and JD(S) MLA for Kunigal D. Nagarajaiah were part of the dharna.

After the Chief Minister’s returned to the Secretariat, BJP and JD(S) leaders, including Jagadish Shettar, H.D. Kumaraswamy and K.S. Eshwarappa, and met the parents and assured them of full support to ensure justice. After Mr. Kumaraswamy’s assurance that the Opposition legislators are firmly behind their demand, they suspended their stir for the next four to five days, which would enable them to conduct obsequies.

Earlier, the agitating members turned down the request of Congress MLAs A. Manju and Ashok Pattan to meet Mr. Siddaramaiah at the Chief Minister’s office. “We came all the way from Doddakoppalu in Kunigal taluk. Why can’t the Chief Minister come down and meet us,” they said.