Mysuru: Strongly condemning the Income Tax (IT) raids on Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar (DKS), Vokkaliga community members representing various associations and organisations, staged a candle light demonstration near Mahatma Gandhi bust, opposite the City Law Courts complex here yesterday.

Raising slogans against the Union Government, the protestors claimed that the IT raids were aimed at weakening the community.

Addressing the protestors, Corporator Prashanth Gowda, who is also the Mysuru-Chamarajanagar District Vokkaligara Sangha General Secretary said that the raids on DKS was aimed at weakening the Congress Government and warned of intensifying the protest if it continued to misuse the two Central agencies in targeting its opponents. Former Mayor H.N. Srikantaiah said that the IT had targeted the Vokkaliga community by carrying out raids on Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Corporator H.S. Prakash, leaders Vikrant P. Devegowda, Basavegowda, Mohit Gowda, Ravi, Doreswamy and others took part in the protest.