Madikeri/Bengaluru: BJP on Saturday launched a fierce protest at Kushalnagar, Kodagu district, demanding that two Congress MLAs be named in the FIR linked to the alleged suicide of opposition party worker Vinay Somaiah.
The protest escalated into a tense standoff with police, even as chief minister Siddaramaiah accused BJP of indulging in “politics over death” and home minister G Parameshwara ruled out a CID probe for now.
BJP state president BY Vijayendra, MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, former MP Pratap Simha, and former speaker K G Bopaiah were among several senior functionaries detained by police as they attempted to lay siege to the office of the deputy superintendent of police at Kushalnagar.
The protest turned chaotic with a large number of BJP workers raising slogans against police and the govt. The party demanded that Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna and Madikeri legislator Mantar Gowda be named in the FIR, based on a purported death note allegedly posted by Somaiah in a WhatsApp group before he died by suicide in Bengaluru on Friday.
Initially, his family refused to conduct his final rites until the two MLAs were named in the FIR. They relented after the senior BJP functionaries were detained, and the cremation was held at Gonimaruru village in Somwarpet.
Following a complaint from the deceased man’s elder brother Jeevan KS, a case was registered against Congress worker Thennira Maheena and others. However, the two MLAs were not named in the FIR despite being mentioned in the handwritten complaint.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah dismissed BJP’s demand. “We can’t respond to BJP’s demands. BJP people are frustrated and they are saying such things. They are doing politics over death. BJP often does this,” he said.
Home minister G Parameshwara assured that police would act in accordance with the law. “The police department is investigating. Somaiah posted a detailed note on WhatsApp, and police will analyse everything and take action,” he said. On the possibility of a CID probe, he said, “If necessary it may be done, but at present, we don’t see the need.”
Vijayendra earlier alleged that police stations were functioning like Congress offices and accused the ruling party of shielding its MLAs. “It is under MLAs’ pressure and oppression that our karyakarta has committed suicide.
Let it take any amount of time. Until the officials get permission from the magistrate court and mention MLAs’ names in the FIR, we will wait. If they don’t do it, police will be responsible for the things that may happen. Police should not allow the law and order situation to deteriorate under political pressure,” Vijayendra said.
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I can only say an FIR has already been registered and an investigation is going on. At this stage, I don’t want to interfere in the case. I don’t want to make any statement
-Siddaramaiah, chief minister
