Bengaluru, Feb. 4 – Members of the Opposition parties — BJP and JD(S) — including Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly R. Ashok, BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra, JD(S) MLA A. Manju among others, staged an overnight protest at Vidhana Soudha yesterday demanding immediate resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Timmapur over alleged irregularities in the Department.

Earlier, R. Ashok and other members brought up the matter under Rule 69 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Karnataka Legislative Assembly alleging that State exchequer had suffered huge losses as officials and others were involved Rs. 6,000 bribe scam.

The protesters alleged that a few of the Excise Deputy Commissioners and staff members had fallen to Lokayukta trap while accepting bribe.

While there is a role of the middlemen in alleged scam, a few of officials and staff members have also recorded their statements against the Minister submitting relevant documents, they said.

Pointing out that the Federation of Wine Merchants Associations, Karnataka, has lodged a complaint against the Department officials and the Minister, the protesters questioned the Government’s stand to defend the Minister when the merchants, who contribute more than Rs. 40,000 crore revenue to the State exchequer, had themseleves made such allegations.

Later, the Opposition Legislators, demanding the resignation of the Excise Minister, assembled at the floor of the House and started chanting bhajans and slept on the floor in protest.

The protest continued this morning as the Opposition members entered the Well of the Assembly and shouted slogans demanding for the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Timmapur.

Following this, Speaker U.T. Khader adjourned the Session till 12.30 pm. As soon as the Session resumed, the Opposition Legislators continued their protest at the Well of the Assembly.