AMN

Widespread protests erupted across Karnataka as the ruling congressmen took to the streets venting their ire on the BJP led NDA government in the wake of simultaneous raids by Income Tax department Sleuths on the properties of State Energy Minister D K Shivakumar and his relatives.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Working President Dinesh Gundurao, addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, alleged that the raids were held with political vengeance because Congress MLAs from Gujarat were brought to Bengaluru to avoid luring by BJP before Rajya Sabha election on August 8.

In Bengaluru the Congress workers staged dharna in front of Mahatma Gandhi bust and aired slogans against BJP. Movement of vehicles came to grinding halt in the cities at Kanakapura, Mysuru, Kalaburagi, Ramanagaram where the agitating workers sat on the streets and aired slogans against BJP.

Raids were still continuing and officials were busy in seizing documents and questioning Mr Shivakumar.

IT officials also visited private Resorts where 42 Congress MLAs from Gujarat were housed and collected details about expenditure for their stay.

In the City more than 100 agitating workers were taken into custody when they tried to prevent the officials from taking Mr Shivakumar inside his residence at Sadashivanagar