Karnataka BJP, JD(S) announce day-and-night protest, demand resignation of Excise Minister

BENGALURU: The Karnataka units of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) launched a day-and-night protest at the Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday night, demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur over the alleged excise scam.

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, state BJP president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, and JD(S) floor leader C.B. Suresh Babu addressed a joint press conference in Bengaluru and announced the commencement of the protest.

BJP and JD(S) legislators held placards inside the Assembly, demanding the resignation of the Excise Minister. Some posters questioned when the minister’s resignation would be taken.

Addressing the media, Ashoka claimed that, for the first time in Karnataka’s history, liquor associations themselves had alleged a Rs 6,000 crore scam in the Excise Department. He further alleged that the Excise Minister was collecting between Rs 250 crore and Rs 300 crore every month. According to him, Rs 2 crore was allegedly collected for each Deputy Commissioner’s post and Rs 10 lakh even for constable-level postings.