Deve Gowda Stages Dharna in Front of CM's House, JD(S) Leaders Arrested

Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jun 27: Lending teeth to the multi-pronged attack hoisted by the JD(S) to unseat the State Chief Minister (CM), B S Yeddyurappa, former Prime Minister, H D Deve Gowda, began his dharna in front of the CM’s residence on Monday June 27 morning, as announced earlier. Gowda has been accusing the CM of deliberately neglecting the progress and welfare of Hassan district.

Prohibitory orders have been clamped around the CM’s residence at Race Course Road here, and a posse of security personnel are standing guard. Gowda’s vehicle was intercepted a little before it reached the CM’s residence. A number of JD(S) leaders and legislators including H D Revanna, Javare Gowda, and A T Ramaswamy, were taken into custody and taken to Ashoknagar police station for violating prohibitory orders.

Unmoved by the deterrents, Deve Gowda and his supporters like MLAs, Prakash, Shivalinge Gowda, P G R Scindhia, Ramanagar MLA, Raju, and others continued with their protest. After reaching the CM’s residence, they began their indefinite dharna on the footpath adjoining the parking lot of CM’s residence. Deve Gowda asserted that the dharna will continue till CM returns and gives categorical assurance about meeting his demands.

Copies of a booklet listing out various instances of injustice purported to have been meted out to Hassan district by the CM, and justifying the protest programme undertaken by Deve Gowda, was distributed. The former PM insisted that his protest was within the ambit of law, and that he had not violated the prohibitory orders.