The Kodagu District Congress held a protest in Madikeri, recently alleging that BJP leaders were unnecessarily targeting two Kodagu MLAs, and draging them in the suicide case of BJP worker Vinay Somaiah.
The protesters expressed their dissatisfaction by burning the effigy of former MP Pratap Simha accusing him of making derogatory statements against the MLAs at General Thimmaiah Circle, Madikeri. The protest was led by Kodagu District Congress President Dharmaja Uthappa, party leaders and hundreds of workers took out a huge protest march from Gandhi Maidan, Madikeri to the General Thimmaiah Circle, shouting slogans against the BJP.
Speaking at a meeting held at Gandhi Maidan after the protest march, Chief Minister’s Legal Advisor and Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna said that BJP members, who talk a lot about the protection of Hindu religion and culture, have stopped the body of Vinay Somaiah and prevented his family from performing the last rites. He accused BJP members of not having the slightest courtesy and civility in allowing the body to be carried to cremation.
A.S. Ponnanna, who claimed that the BJP state leaders who participated in the protest in Kushalnagar did not even know the name of the deceased, and he further questioned where the BJP members were when Vinay Somaiah’s body was being taken from Kushalnagar to his native village.
KPCC spokesperson M. Lakshman said that during the protest in Kushalnagar, some BJP leaders had alleged that the district MLAs had made money and he challenged to prove it .
Since the two MLAs of the district are with the people and responding to the hardships and engaging in development work. Unable to tolerate this, the BJP is now making allegations against the Congress, he said.
Former Legislative Council member Veena Achaiah said that instead of mourning Vinay Somaiah’s death, BJP members are doing politics and protesting even after his death. They have also made allegations against the district police in an attempt to bring a bad name to the Congress. The Congress cannot tolerate any false allegations, she said.
Congress leader H.S. Chandramouli said that the BJP members who were saying that they would free Kodagu from Congress have not succeed in it
The BJP members who are demanding that the names of the MLAs be included in the Vinay Somaiah FIR, do not have even the slightest knowledge of the law. He said that if their role was found during the investigation, their names will be included.
Former Legislative Council member C.S. Arun Machaiah spoke and condemned the BJP’s move.
District Congress media spokesperson T.P. Ramesh said that the two MLAs are working hard for the development of the district by carrying out development work from the rural level. The BJP has tried to turn a lie into truth by telling it a hundred times. He said that it is necessary for the Congressmen to stand up and resist the BJP’s propaganda.
Kushalnagar Block Congress President V.P. Shashidhar said that Pratap Simha does not have the morals to speak against the district MLAs.
Congress leaders Sanket Poovaiah, Kolyad Girish, Suju Thimmaiah, S.I. Munir Ahmed, B.Y. Rajesh, R.P. Chandrashekhar, H.A. Hans, Ismail, B.S. Thammaiah, Neravanda Umesh, along with the other party leaders and activists who had come from various parts of the district, participated in the protest.
