Mangalore erupts in protests over Vidhan Saudha porn-gate

Mangalore, February 8: The fallout of the porn-gate scandal in Karnataka Legislative Assembly involving three prominent ministers, was an outpouring of anger and indignation across the city of Mangalore, the home constituency of Krishna J Palemar.

The city's main protest hub opposite to the Office of Deputy Commissioner witnessed at least six protests from different groups throughout the day.

Various political parties like Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Social Democratic Party of India, and organisations like Youth Wing Jama'ath-e-Islami Hind and Students Federation of India staged demonstraions condemning the act of three ministers who caught watching porn videos during Assembly proceedings.

Though the tainted trio – Minister for Ecology, Environment and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister Krishna J Palemar, Minister for Cooperation Laxman Savadi and Women and Child Welfare Minister C C Patil quit from their ministerial berths, the protesters demanded their immediate dismissal from the membership of Legislative Assembly.

KRV

The attempt made by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike to hold protest in front of the personal office of former minister J Krishna Palemar led to a verbal tiff between the police and activists.

Congress

In a novel protest, the district Congress Committee members brought a duplicate 'Vidhana Soudha' with effigies of tainted trio stuck on it. They performed the 'purification' of the Vidhana Saudha by pouring water over it, before kicking and burning the effigies.

Leading the protest, KPCC Secretary Ivan D Souza said that there was a need save the image of Karnataka, which was in danger because of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government.

“These corrupt and scandalous representatives should quit the politics permanently. Mere resigning from the ministerial berth is not enough”, he said.

He also said that the self-respect of the state has been hurt due to the scandalous act by ministers like Palemar.

He said that the entire government should be suspended over issue. “What culture does the ruling BJP promote?, he questioned.

SDPI

Holding their party flags the members of Social Democratic Party of India raised slogans against the BJP government and its tainted leaders.

District unit president of the party Abdul Jaleel, Secretary Akbar Ali, State Committee member Anwar Saadat were among the protesters.

They demanded the resignation of Chief Minister D V Sadanda Gowda led government and praised the media for bringing to light the “character” of BJP misters.

Addressing the protesters Mr Saadat said the people of the state finally have seen what the BJP party's true colours are.

“The BJP leaders have desecrated the Legislative Assembly, through their foul activities and habits”, he said.

CPIM/CITU

The protesters who gathered in front of DC office under the banner of CPIM and CITU went on to demand the police department to arrest the tainted MLAs for their 'lustful behaviour' during the Assembly proceedings.

“Their resignation is not sufficient. They deserve stringent legal action”, said CPIM leader B Madhava. Vasantha Achary, Sunil Kumar Bajal and rationalist Narendra Nayak were also among the protesters.