Karnataka today witnessed protests and rallies statewide with the ruling BJP demanding immediate recall of Governor H.R. Bhardwaj and Opposition Congress seeking dismissal of B.S. Yeddyurappa-led government.
BJP activists burnt effigies of Mr. Bhardwaj, decrying his recommendation to the Centre for bringing the state under President’s rule and calling for the Governor’s immediate recall, in all the districts as part of the party’s call.
The ruling party workers set up road blockades at several places disrupting the traffic, reports reaching here said.
Reports of BJP activists staging ‘rasta roko’ came in from Mysore, Bijapur, Belgaum, Raichur and from Town Hall in Bangalore.
The Congress also resorted to traffic blockade and protests at several places in the State, particularly on National Highways connecting Bangalore.
Addressing the party activists at Goraguntepalya, KPCC President G. Parameshwara demanded that the “corrupt” BJP government be dismissed and the Centre accept the Governor’s report in this regard.
“We will continue to agitate till this corrupt government is dismissed”, Mr. Parameshwara declared.
The city witnessed traffic snarls at several places in the wake of protests by the two parties.
Mr. Yeddyurappa is camping in Delhi along with MLAs who he is expected to parade before Pratibha Patil this evening at Rastrapathi Bhavan to demonstrate their support.
Chief Minister Yeddyurappa remarked, "Bhardwaj ji has helped us to unite and strengthen our party. I compliment him for this. In the banquet hall of Vidhan Sabha, we are going to give him a grand reception. I thank all the BJP CMs for their support... we come to Delhi to save democracy and to save Karnataka,” he told reporters in the national capital.
Meanwhile, several Congress leaders including Opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah and KPCC President Parameshwara courted arrest. The leaders shouted slogans and demanded dismissal of the “illegal and unconstitutional BJP government”.
