Alleging that the encroachment of government land by the family of Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao was actually 65 acres as per the A.T. Ramaswamy Committee report, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday demanded that the Minister step down owning moral responsibility, or that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should sack him.
Addressing a press conference here, leaders of the Opposition in both the Houses of the State legislature, Jagadish Shettar and K.S. Eshwarappa, demanded that the government book a criminal case against the Minister and his family as per the law.
Mr. Eshwarappa also announced that all BJP legislators would stage a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on Seshadri Road in Bengaluru on November 20 to demand the resignation of Mr. Dinesh Gundu Rao.
They will also demand the resignation of Home Minister K.J. George for his alleged failure to prevent the rise in crimes, especially of sexual assault against women and children. The protest will also touch on issues related to illegal sand extraction, he said.
Market interventionMr. Shettar urged the government to resort to market intervention to rescue onion growers who are in dire straits following the crash in prices of their produce in the wholesale market. He also urged the government to act sternly against sugar factory owners who fail to provide the State advisory price (SAP) to farmers for their produce.
The BJP is also set to hold its office-bearers’ meeting in Bengaluru on Thursday to chalk out its future course of action with respect to organisational activities and various campaigns against the government.
Meanwhile, the members of the Minority Morcha of the BJP took out a bike rally in the city demanding the resignation of Wakf Minister Qamarul Islam, accusing him of encroaching on Wakf Board property.
