Bengaluru, Feb 4 (NationPress) The Karnataka factions of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) initiated a continuous protest at the Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday night, demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur due to the alleged excise scam.

During a joint press conference in Bengaluru, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, BJP state president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, along with JD(S) floor leader C.B. Suresh Babu, announced the start of the protest.

BJP and JD(S) lawmakers displayed placards inside the Assembly, requesting the resignation of the Excise Minister. Certain posters raised questions about when the minister's resignation would occur.

While speaking to the media, Ashoka asserted that, for the first time in Karnataka’s history, liquor associations have claimed a Rs 6,000 crore scam within the Excise Department. He further accused the Excise Minister of collecting between Rs 250 crore and Rs 300 crore monthly. Allegedly, Rs 2 crore was collected for each Deputy Commissioner’s position and Rs 10 lakh even for constable-level vacancies.

He also referenced an audio recording where a Deputy Commissioner purportedly mentioned that a “cut” had to be paid to ministers, highlighting that a complaint had been lodged against the minister with the Lokayukta.

“In spite of all this, the minister is requesting proof, and the entire government, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, is supporting him. This suggests that a significant amount of money is flowing to the Congress high command. For elections, this enormous Rs 6,000 crore collection has occurred. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed that Rs 700 crore from Karnataka was sent for the Maharashtra elections,” Ashoka alleged.

He went on to accuse the government of allowing liquor shops on every corner and transforming Karnataka into a “haven of drunkards.” Ashoka alleged that the Chief Minister was complicit in the excise scandal and stated that the opposition was determined to ensure accountability for those involved.

“We are conducting an overnight dharna and will persist with our protest until Excise Minister Thimmapur resigns. If he does not step down, we will directly accuse Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of having a stake in the scam,” he stated.

JD(S) floor leader C.B. Suresh Babu claimed that scams involving thousands of crores have occurred and criticized the government for ignoring the issue. He condemned the government for distributing Rs 2,000 to women while supposedly promoting liquor consumption, asserting that the BJP and JD(S) were united in protesting what they described as large-scale corruption through the overnight dharna.

BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra expressed confidence that the Congress high command shares responsibility in the Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 crore corruption scandal within the Excise Department, citing the Chief Minister’s strong defense of the Excise Minister despite serious allegations.

Vijayendra stated that the Siddaramaiah-led government was engaging in blatant misconduct and reiterated his demand for the “corrupt” Excise Minister to resign. He confirmed that the BJP and JD(S) would maintain their continuous protest until the resignation was achieved.

Earlier that day, the Assembly witnessed a heated debate on the matter, resulting in intense exchanges between the ruling Congress and opposition members.

Bringing the issue to the Assembly floor, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka claimed that the government was involved in the scam and called for a comprehensive investigation. He insisted that the Excise Minister must resign immediately and that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should dismiss him, emphasizing that this is the official stance of the BJP.

JD(S) floor leader C.B. Suresh Babu remarked that the Chief Minister should take the situation seriously, noting that Siddaramaiah does not seem to operate as he did during his first term. He appealed to the CM to initiate an investigation and take action.

Senior BJP MLA V. Sunil Kumar alleged that the Excise scandal emerged under the direction of the Congress high command, similar to the Valmiki Tribal Welfare Corporation scandal that arose during the Lok Sabha elections. He asserted that the funds were being raised for elections in five states and demanded immediate intervention.