HD Deve Gowda stages dharna near Yeddyurappa’s residence

While it was a showdown between chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy at Dharmasthala, the latter’s father HD Deve Gowda took on Yeddyurappa in Bangalore on Monday.

Gowda, who arrived at the chief minister’s residence on Race Course Road to protest alleged discrimination against Hassan district in developmental works, was prevented from staging a sit-in by the police.

Citing the orders issued by city police commissioner banning protests around the chief minister’s residence, they requested Gowda to shift the venue of his protest.

After a brief argument, Gowda moved to the parking area adjacent to the chief minister’s residence on Race Course Road along with JD(S) leaders Javare Gowda and Putte Gowda and staged the dharna in a corner. But Kumaraswamy’s elder brother and JD(S) legislature party leader HD Revanna was taken into police custody as he tried to stage a protest opposite the chief minister’s residence. 

Gowda refused to withdraw the sit-in until the chief minister assured him of quick implementation of the developmental works in Hassan.

Chief minister’s principal secretary ISN Prasad and other officials finally persuaded Gowda to withdraw the protest by assuring him that the government would convene a meeting on Hassan’s development before July 3.

While withdrawing his protest, Gowda threatened to go on a more intensive agitation from July 4 if the state government failed to act on his demands of speeding up all development works in Hassan.