Bengaluru, Feb 4 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) have maintained their continuous protest at the Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday, insisting on the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur due to alleged misconduct involving an excise scam.

Members from both parties camped overnight at the Assembly, with some leaders, including BJP state President B.Y. Vijayendra and Opposition Leader R. Ashoka, taking a morning stroll within the grounds.

Previously, LoP R. Ashoka, BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra, and JD(S) floor leader C.B. Suresh Babu spoke at a press conference in Bengaluru announcing the protest’s initiation on Tuesday night.

The legislators were seen holding placards within the Assembly, demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur, citing a staggering Rs 6,000-crore scam within the Excise Department. They later gathered to sing devotional songs, even sharing images and videos on social media showing their overnight stay on the Assembly floor.

After freshening up, the lawmakers convened in the lounge for tea and discussions on their next steps. Post-morning walk, the BJP and JD(S) legislators resumed their protest by sitting on the Assembly’s entry steps, chanting slogans demanding the Excise Minister’s resignation. They also sang patriotic songs and raised slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”

BJP MLA Channabasappa performed a devotional song, joined by legislators including Vijayendra, Ashoka, and Arvind Bellad, the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.

Earlier, while addressing the media, Ashoka claimed that this was the first time in Karnataka’s history that liquor associations have alleged a Rs 6,000-crore scam in the Excise Department. He further alleged that the Excise Minister was generating between Rs 250 crore to Rs 300 crore every month. According to him, Rs 2 crore was allegedly demanded for each Deputy Commissioner’s position, and Rs 10 lakh even for constable-level appointments.

He also referenced an audio clip where a Deputy Commissioner allegedly mentioned that a “cut” had to be paid to ministers and pointed out that a complaint against the minister had been lodged with the Lokayukta.

“Despite all this evidence, the minister continues to demand proof, and the entire government, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also oversees the finance portfolio, is supporting him. This implies that a significant amount of money is funneling to the Congress high command. For electoral purposes, this enormous Rs 6,000-crore collection has occurred. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has mentioned that Rs 700 crore from Karnataka was sent for the Maharashtra elections,” Ashoka alleged.

“We are conducting an overnight dharna and will persist in this protest until Excise Minister Thimmapur resigns. Should he refuse to resign, we will directly accuse Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of having a stake in the scam,” he stated.