As part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s fast across the nation against the alleged disruptions of Parliamentary proceedings by the Congress, several senior BJP ministers and office-bearers protested at Bengaluru’s Anand Rao Circle.
The Budget Session of Parliament was a washout, as the Speakers in both the Houses kept adjourning the sessions due to disruptions, with the Opposition trying to move no-confidence motions against the Centre. The Parliament was adjourned sine die.
The official statement of the BJP said that the fast would “expose the Congress for its undemocratic style of functioning and pursuing divisive politics and anti-development agenda”.
P Muralidhar Rao, National General Secretary for BJP, accused the Congress of impeding the progress and development of the country. He said, “Congress cannot digest the fact that we have a majority government and, hence, is using disruptions to stop us from working. BJP had never gone into the Parliament well even when it had two MPs”.
Targeting Congress and Rahul Gandhi in particular, he said, “Congress is known for its dynastic rule and corruption, and we are trying to put an end to both in the country.”
Going into the election mode, he appealed to the people of Karnataka to do away with these problems.
BJP National President Amit Shah, who is in Karnataka for his second two-day visit, participated in the protests held in Dharwad.
DV Sadananda Gowda, currently the Union Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation and a former Chief Minister of Karnataka, said, “In Karnataka, there have been several atrocities committed against Hindus, BJP and RSS workers, and the Congress is destroying the nation by doing appeasement politics.”
He added that these polls would spell the end of the Janata Dal (Secular) in the state.
The Congress hit back terming the protest as “farcical” and a “PR stunt”. Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress spokesperson, said, “Modi’s words carry no value. The government has no sense of accountability. It (the government) has lost direction and purpose.”
Ananth Kumar, Union Cabinet Minister for Chemicals, Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, while speaking to the media, dismissed Congress’ charges.
Attacking Congress’ protest and fast on April 9, he said, “All the MPs of the BJP and NDA returned their wages and allowances for the Budget Session because we believe wecouldn’t work and serve people and, hence, shouldn’t take the wages and allowances.”
The protest was also attended by Prakash Javadekar, Union Human Resource Development Minister, and many other local functionaries and office-bearers of the BJP.