Karnataka: Congress party calls for two-hour bandh on Monday

Bengaluru: To draw the attention of the people on the 'corrupt' Bharatiya Janata Party ruled State Government and also to demand the resignation of the Chief Minister over ‘corruption,’ president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday said that the Congress party has called for a State bandh on March 9 from 9 am to 11 am. He, however, said, the bandh for two-hours will not affect schools, public transport or the hospitals.

The bandh call by Congress party comes in the wake of the latest Lokayukta sleuths raid and recovery of cash from the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Veerupakshappa Madal who was the chairman of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited and his son Prashanth Madal, Chief Accountant of Bangalore Water Supplies and Sewage Board (BWSSB) was caught red-handed with bribe amount of Rs 40 lakh by the Lokayukta sleuths on Thursday. Veerupakshappa Madal resigned on Friday and is said to be absconding after the Lokayukta raid.

On the bandh day, he said, party workers would stage silent protest and take out a procession in all the districts and appealed to the traders and business community to support the bandh by shutting their down for two-hours and extend their co-operation in eliminating a ‘corrupt’ government in the ensuing Assembly polls and to install a Congress government for good governance.

It may be recalled here that about six months back the Congress party launched PayCM poster campaign against the Chief Minister accusing his government of indulging in availing 40 percent commission in getting government works done especially appointments to various posts such as Police Sub-Inspectors, lecturers among others.

On Saturday, Congress leaders led by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and others tried to lay siege to the residence of CM on Race Course road in Bengaluru city demanding his resignation.