Stepping up its protest demanding the resignation of Minister B. Nagendra, the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha on Monday.

Announcing this at a press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok said the BJP members will take out a protest march from Freedom Park before laying siege to the Vidhana Soudha.

All prominent leaders, including State president B.Y. Vijayendra, will participate in the protest, he said. 

The BJP, which has been protesting in the legislature demanding the resignation of Mr. Nagendra who has been chargesheeted in the case of alleged embezzlement of funds meant for ST communities, will continue its protest inside the legislature, he said.

Janata Dal (Secular) leader and Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy had expressed a view that the protest should continue in the session, Mr. Ashok said.

He indicated that the Opposition parties would also petition the Governor about their demand by saying that: “As a last resort we will knock on the doors of the Lok Bhavan.” He said both the parties would also explore other options to take their protest to its logical end.

‘Goondaism’

Meanwhile, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar launched a counter-attack on the Opposition by remarking that it was disrupting the legislature proceedings as it lacked the strength to face the Congress. He also accused them of resorting to goondaism.

Commenting on the Opposition’s plans to lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha, the Chief Minister said: “There is a law of the land here. There is provision to protest within the framework of the law. Today, they are resorting to goondaism. Without giving any notice, they are ruining the legislature proceedings through their protest. It is not wrong for the opposition to stage protests. But let them issue a notice and seek a debate on their demands. The Opposition lacks the patience to discuss why the Minister should resign,” he said.