Bengaluru: Congress has called a two-hour-long state-wide bandh of markets in Karnataka on 9 March against the "corrupt BJP government", said party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Tuesday.
The Congress called a bandh after several Congress leaders, led by former chief minister Siddaramaiah protested demanding the arrest of BJP MLA Madal Virupaksha, whose son was caught taking a bribe by the state's Lokayukta.
"The 9th Karnataka Bandh is a symbolical bandh of markets only for 2 hours from 9 AM-11AM only against "Corrupt BJP Govt". To avoid inconvenience, road-rail transport, educational institutions, exams, hospitals, essential services are all exempted and not a part of the bandh," said Surjewala in a tweet.
Last week, on Thursday, Karnataka Lokayukta officers caught Virupaksha's son, a chief accountant at Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), while he was allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh from a contractor.
The anti-corruption wing of Lokayukta raided the residence of the MLA's son, Prashant Madal, during which they also recovered Rs 6 crore in cash.
"The anti-corruption branch of Lokayukta caught Prashanth Maadal, son of BJP MLA Maadal Virupakshappa while he was taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh. Over Rs 1.7 crore in cash was recovered from his office," the Karnataka Lokayukta said in a statement earlier.
Reacting to the recovery of alleged bribe money from the residence of the BJP MLA's son, CM Bommai said an impartial investigation was being conducted into the corruption charge against the BJP MLA and his son. (with Agency inputs)
