Vedike demands suspension of Minister Priyank Kharge

Ambaraya Ashtagi, BJP leader and member of Nagarika Hitharakshana Vedike, addressing press persons in Kalaburagi city on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The members of Zilla Nagarika Hitharakshane Vedike demanded suspension of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge from the Cabinet for allegedly misusing his power for wrongful confinement of Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council, at Chittapur town on May 21.

Vedike members Ambaraya Ashtagi, former Mayor Vishal Dhargi, former Zilla panchayat member Basavaraj Bennur, who are also BJP leaders, jointly addressing press conference in Kalaburagi city on Thursday alleged that a group of rowdy elements those indulged in illegal sand mining at Chittapur taluk, nurtured by Mr. Kharge were responsible for disturbing law and order situation at Chittapur on that day of incident.

Mr. Ashtagi claimed that the entire episode was the result of a planned conspiracy against Mr. Narayanaswamy; he claimed that a group of 30 to 40 people tailed the BJP leader from Kalaburagi to Chittapur and they carried black paint and eggs to attack him at Chittapur guest house.

He also accused the police of lodging false cases under the SC and ST(Prevention of Atrocities) Act against N. Ravi Kumar, MLC.

Mr. Bennur and Mr. Dhargi said that besides confining Mr. Narayanaswamy for five hours in guest house at Chittapur, the Congress workers and followers of Mr. Priyank Kharge have allegedly manhandled Mr. Ashtagi along with other BJP leaders – Pritam Patil, Nijagunagowda Yalgod and Shivu Ashtagi;  and a case has been lodged against Arun Yagapur, Maruti Halagi, Shivanand Hongunti, Rafeeq, Uday Sagar and Nagaraj Kallak, he added.

The Vedike members demanded suspension of Mr. Priyank Kharge from the State cabinet, stern action against the police officers for dereliction of duty in connection with Chittapur incident; they also demanded action against the Congress workers and anti-social elements for taking law into their hands. 

Published - May 29, 2025 07:45 pm IST