Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the Congress has organised a ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo’ march against the alleged misuse of the Governor’s office. Congress’ Karnataka unit president Shivakumar said the main objective of the march was to ensure that Raj Bhavan does not become the office of any political party.
The Deputy Chief Minister said, “I want to clarify that we did not organize ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo’ on behalf of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This matter is sub judice in the court….” He said, “The Raj Bhavan Chalo march is to ensure that the Governor’s office does not become the office of any party. We are going to the Raj Bhavan demanding to protect the sanctity of this constitutional post.”
Shivkumar said that several petitions are pending before the Governor seeking permission to prosecute some persons. Carrying placards, banners, posters and raising slogans denouncing Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Congress leaders led by Shivkumar took out a march. Several ministers, Congress MLAs and MPs participated in it.
Later, they also submitted a memorandum to Gehlot. Earlier, Siddaramaiah, his cabinet colleagues, Congress MLAs and MPs staged a sit-in protest near the Gandhi statue at the Vidhana Soudha premises here. The Congress is protesting against Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s order to probe the alleged scam in Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land allotment and giving sanction to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Siddaramaiah’s wife Parvathy has been accused of getting an alternative plot at a higher rate in lieu of ‘illegal acquisition’ of her land by MUDA. The Chief Minister has alleged that the Governor’s position has been misused to ‘destabilise’ the Congress government in the state.
Siddaramaiah has also accused Gehlot of discrimination. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on August 16 gave approval to prosecute the Chief Minister under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 218 of the Indian Civil Security Code, 2023 for the alleged offences mentioned in the petitions of three social organizations.