Congress MLC Ivan D'Souza
A political storm has erupted across Karnataka following the controversial statement made by Congress MLC Ivan D’Souza during a protest in Mangalore on Monday. The protest was part of a statewide agitation by the Congress against Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, who had granted permission to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment case.
During the protest, D’Souza made a shocking remark, warning that Governor Gehlot might face a fate similar to that of a former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, suggesting that he might have to flee the state. This statement has drawn widespread condemnation from BJP leaders and further intensified the already heated political environment.
In response, BJP leaders lashed out, with Member of Legislative Council CT Ravi expressing his outrage on ‘X’. Ravi questioned the intent behind D’Souza’s statement, asking whether Congress leaders were threatening to storm the Raj Bhavan, the Governor’s official residence. He called on Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjuna Kharge to clarify their stance and demanded that a complaint be filed with the state police against D’Souza for his inflammatory remarks.
The backlash did not end there. In Mangalore, BJP Yuva Morcha activists staged a protest in front of the Barke police station, demanding that an FIR be registered against D’Souza. The protesters accused him of making threatening and unconstitutional statements against the Governor. However, following assurances from the police, the Yuva Morcha workers called off their protest.
Meanwhile, the Dakshina Kannada District Congress also held a protest against Governor Gehlot’s decision to allow prosecution against CM Siddaramaiah. D’Souza, while addressing the protesters, reiterated his controversial statement, urging the President to recall Governor Gehlot or face the consequences. His remarks have only deepened the divide between the Congress and BJP in the state.
As the protests spread across Karnataka, incidents of violence were reported in several areas. In Mangalore, three individuals, including a nominated member of the Mangalore Municipal Corporation, were arrested for pelting stones at a private bus during the protests. The incident, which occurred in front of the Mangalore Corporation office, resulted in the bus’s front glass being shattered as protesters resorted to hooliganism. A video of the stone-pelting has since gone viral on social media, further escalating tensions.
In Davangere, Congress leaders and activists staged a dramatic protest at Ambedkar Circle, where they conducted a mock funeral for Governor Gehlot. The protesters carried a symbolic coffin and shouted slogans against the Governor, demanding his removal from office. The protest was led by Mayakonda MLA K.S. Basavanthappa and MLA Shamanur Shivshankarappa, who sat in the middle of the road to express their solidarity with CM Siddaramaiah. Dr. Prabha Mallikarjun, an MP and daughter-in-law of Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, also participated in the protest.
The protests carried out by Congress crossed limits in many parts of the state on Monday, with party workers engaging in acts of hooliganism.
Responding to Organiser regarding Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s court application challenging the Governor’s permission for prosecution in the MUDA case, BJP state president BY Vijayendra asserted that, like any ordinary citizen, the Chief Minister has the right to seek legal assistance. He clarified that there is no direct dispute between the BJP and the Chief Minister on this matter.
However, Vijayendra was critical of Siddaramaiah’s actions, particularly his alleged attempt to evade responsibility for a financial scam involving four to five thousand crores of rupees by forming a one-man commission to investigate the matter. He argued that, in the interest of fairness, Siddaramaiah should tender his resignation and fight the legal battle without holding onto his position.
When asked if the BJP’s protests were solely based on documents provided by a social worker, Vijayendra initially hesitated but then retorted, “Did you not see that we marched from Bangalore to Mysore?” indicating that their actions were not solely based on the documents but were part of a broader protest movement.
The Congress party and top leaders, notorious for its widespread corruption, consistently resorts to intimidation and legal loopholes when caught red-handed. Rather than owning up to their misdeeds, they evade accountability, shamelessly sidestepping moral responsibility. Their actions reflect a blatant disregard for national interest and public trust, highlighting their relentless pursuit of power at any cost, irrespective of ethical considerations.
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