BJP workers stage protest against Shivalinge Gowda

Hassan district unit of the BJP, on Wednesday, staged a protest in Hassan demanding the resignation of Excise Minister K.M. Shivalinge Gowda over his recent controversial statement that suggested “offering money respectfully” to government servants for getting the service delivered.

Party workers took out a protest march from the BJP’s district office to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Along the way, they raised slogans against the Minister and also collected money from the public, saying it was meant to be offered to the Minister “respectfully.”

Party district president Siddesh Nagendra, addressing the protesters, said the party would offer whatever was collected from the public during the protest to the Minister. “If the amount collected is insufficient for the Minister, we will collect more by visiting villages across the district,” he said.

He further alleged that the Minister had advocated bribery by asking the public to offer money to officials and said that, taking moral responsibility for his statement, the Minister should resign. Otherwise, he demanded, the governor should dismiss him from the Cabinet.