New Delhi: After deciding to intensify protests across the state over contractor Santosh Patil's death that has been linked to Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj KS Eshwarappa, Karnataka Congress leaders were detained by the police in Bengaluru on Thursday.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief DK Shivakumar, former CM Siddaramaiah and several other Congress leaders were detained as they were marching towards CM Bommai's residence in view of their demand for Karnataka Minister Eshwarappa's resignation in connection with Patil's alleged suicide.
Also read | Contractor Suicide: Karnataka Congress Urges Governor Gehlot To Expel Minister Eshwarappa
Ahead of starting to march towards Bommai's residence, Shivakumar said that the CM wants to save the corrupt minister. "If he wants to save face of BJP & his govt, then immediately arrest (KS Eshwarappa) & book a case of corruption," he told news agency ANI.
Alleging that CM Bommai is murdering the constitution, Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala tweeted, "Instead of arresting Minister Eshwarappa, the 40% Commission Bommai Govt has arrested Former CM, Siddaramaiah, PCC Chief DK Shivakumar, myself and other Congress Leaders & activists. BJP can’t put a lid over corruption by such acts of suppression on Babasaheb Jayanti."
Levelling corruption allegations on the ruling BJP government in Karnataka, Surjewala asserted justice for Santosh Patil is the mission of every Kannadiga and he called upon the people of the state to take part in the 'Yajna' to cleanse Karnataka of politics. "We will not relent, we will not bow down until Eshwarappa is arrested & sacked," he said in his tweet.
Also read | Karnataka Contractor's Death: Kin Refuse To Accept His Body Till Arrest Of Minister Eshwarappa
Earlier on Wednesday, the delegation of top Congress leaders, including party General Secretary and state in-charge Randeep Surjewala, met Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot demanding the termination of Eshwarappa. Santosh Patil, the contractor who accused Eshwarappa of corruption and fraud died by suicide on Tuesday in Udupi.
The deceased Santhosh had earlier written letters to the top central BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 40 per cent commission demand by Minister Eshwarappa. Patil who was the national secretary of the Hindu Yuva Vahini has blamed the minister as the sole reason for him taking this extreme step, as confirmed by ABP News sources.