Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], August 23 : Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday said the BJP was free to continue its protest over the alleged multi-crore Karnataka Dalit Valmiki Corporation scam, but stressed that any demonstration must remain within the framework of the law.
He also questioned the BJP's demand for the resignation of a Congress minister and challenged the opposition to provide details of cases against ministers, MPs, Union ministers and Chief Ministers across the country.
Speaking to the reporters, the Karnataka CM said, "Let them do whatever they want. There is a law of this land, in this country. I don't want to disturb them. Let them do anything legally. Do whatever you want within the framework of that law. What they are doing today is nothing but hooliganism. If they are tearing up the law and disrupting the Assembly instead of giving a notice or following the procedure, then what is the point? There is nothing wrong with people coming together, asking questions, or protesting."
"But I am saying, at least give notice and discuss it. I have been asking why he should resign. They do not even have the patience to listen to me till then. So, they do not have the strength to face the Congress party in the Assembly. Let them tell us how many ministers have cases against them, how many MPs have cases against them, how many Union ministers have cases against them, and how many Chief Ministers have cases against them," he further said.
Karnataka Chief Minister further alleged that the BJP was targeting a Dalit, Scheduled Tribe and tribal leader, claiming that the party was unhappy with the election of several ST community leaders on Congress tickets.
"You should also come out with a document on how many ministers have cases in the country, how many Chief Ministers have cases in the country, and why they are not asking for their resignation. They are only targeting a Dalit leader, an ST minister, a tribal minister, because 15, 16, 17 of the MLAs have been elected from the Congress party. So they are very much jealous of that. They could not get any ST community leaders elected from their party. So they are trying to do this," he further said.
His remarks came after Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka launched a sharp attack on the Congress government over the alleged Karnataka Dalit Valmiki Corporation scam.
Ashoka said the BJP, along with the JD(S), would "lay siege" to the Vidhana Soudha on Monday, demanding accountability from the government. He alleged that Rs 187 crore belonging to the Valmiki Corporation was looted from the state treasury to finance Congress election campaigns in Karnataka and Telangana.
About his meeting with Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, Shivakumar said it was their first meeting since he became Chief Minister.
"After I became the Chief Minister, this is the first time he has come here to meet me. They are doing lot of jobs here. Even if he came just as a courtesy, he met me and left," CM said.