As the Karnataka senior congress leader DK Shivakumar was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday for alleged money laundering case, the Karnataka Congress has called for a statewide bandh.
Karnataka Bandh Live Updates
Shivakumar will be produced before a court on Wednesday in New Delhi where the Enforcement Directorate is likely to demand DK Shivakumar’s custody to question him regarding money laundering charges he faces.
The Congress has termed Shivakumar’s arrest as vendetta politics and accused the Bharatiya Janta Party of using the ED to intimidate the Opposition. Moments after the ED arrested DK Shivakumar, Congress workers started protests in various parts of Karnataka and even in New Delhi.
Buses were torched and schools and colleges have been shut as a precautionary measure for the state-wide bandh on Wednesday
After being arrested, DK Shivakumar was taken to Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where doctors tried to control his blood pressure and sugar levels. Meanwhile, a Congress supporter cried and tore off his clothes outside the hospital.
After meeting Shivakumar, President of Youth Congress Srinivas BV said, “Shivakumar’s health has deteriorated due to the harassment he has been subjected to. Doctors have advised him to rest but Enforcement Directorate (ED) is trying to take him away.”
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate has said a decision on interrogation will be taken based on medical reports of DK Shivakumar.
Congress leader KC Venugopal has slammed the Centre over DK Shivakumar’s arrest. He said, “It is evident that the government is desperately trying to hide its outright failure in checking the economic slowdown and financial crisis by shamelessly harassing its political opponents. I strongly condemn this politics of vengeance and harassment.”
Later in the day, the sources said that there was a mild variation in medical parameters of DK Shivakumar, but he has been declared medically fit now. The ED is likely to produce him before the court on Wednesday afternoon.
Protests erupted across Karnataka, which turned violent in Bengaluru Rural and Ramanagaram districts, which are Shivakumar’s strongholds. The Belagavi-Bagalkot highway has been blocked by the supporters in protest and four KSRTC buses were stoned.
Congress Calls DK Shivakumar’s arrest ‘Political Vendetta’
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao has requested the workers not to resort to violence. He said, “We should protest in a peaceful manner since it’s our democratic right.”
The bandh is expected to hit Bengaluru and affect the Bengaluru-Mysore traffic. The districts’ schools and colleges are shut. Meanwhile, the KSRTC buses have re-routed in the wake of ugly protests. The Mysore-Bengaluru services have been restricted and are operating via Magadi, Huliyurudurga. The state police have stopped public buses at Bidadi.
The police have also issued an advisory for commuters about roadblock and deviation information, informing that the Bengaluru-Ramanagaram-Mysuru road has been blocked due to protests at the Ijoor circle.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up near Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s residence and around the BJP offices in Congress’ strongholds.
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