DK Shivakumar’s arrest by ED sparks protests across Karnataka

In DKS’s own constitutency of Kanakapura, protestors pelted stones and damged several buses belonging to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation.

Following the arrest of former minister DK Shivakumar in a money laundering case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), protests were witnessed across the state. Incidents of stone pelting, halting of traffic, dharna by Congress leaders and workers, shops being closed, burning of tyres were witnessed in different parts of Karnataka in response to Shivakumar’s arrest.

Members of Indian Youth Congress burn an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they protest against the arrest of senior Congress leader DK Shivkumar at Raisina Road in New Delhi. (Amal KS/HT PHOTO)

In Shivakumar’s own constitutency of Kanakapura, protestors pelted stones and damaged several buses owned by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation. The Bengaluru-Mysuru highway was closed for traffic as protesters burnt tyres and blocked movement of vehicles. State government authorities indicated that by evening at least five to six buses had been damaged in stone pelting. As a precautionary measure, schools and colleges across Ramanagara district — under which Kanakapura falls — were closed by the district administration on Wednesday.

Former chief minister and Congress Legislature Party leader S Siddaramaiah who participated in the protests in Mysuru said that opposition leaders were being targeted each and every day using central government agencies. Claiming that the arrest of Shivakumar was an attempt to divert attention from structural failures of BJP government and also to prevent voices of dissent, he said Shivakumar was a victim of vindictive politics. Asserting that Shivakumar would definitely come out clean, Siddaramaiah said the country would understand the ulterior motives of BJP. “We are all with him in this difficult times and shall provide him with full support,” he tweeted.

However, Home minister Basvraj Bommai asked Congress leaders to ensure protests were peaceful. He also said that officials had been instructed to take all necessary measures to ensure law and order was maintained. “We have to see that public at large is not affected, and there should not be any violence.”