Senior BJP leaders taken into custody during protest

BENGALURU: Several Karnataka BJP leaders, including party's national Vice-President B S Yeddyurappa and state President Prahlad Joshi, were taken into custody today for attempting to stage a protest near the state secretariat, demanding action against "tainted" ministers.

BJP leaders, MLAs and MPs were resorting to protest near the Gandhi Statue near the Vidhana Soudha, against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's alleged inaction against "tainted" ministers in his government.

The leaders, who were later released, demanded immediate resignation and action against Ministers K J George, Kamarul Islam, Dinesh Gundu Rao and Mahadeva Prasad.

They claimed that despite "having evidence" against them in the alleged land grabbing and corruption, the chief minister was "trying to protect his ministers".

Joshi said the government was not permitting holding of protests near the Gandhi statue located close to Vidhana Soudha which was "undemocratic".