M.P. Renukacharya

Bangalore: Four Congress leaders on Wednesday charged Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and State BJP president D.V. Sadananda Gowda with shielding Honnali MLA M.P. Renukacharya, who has accused of harassing a woman.

Leading a procession of Youth Congress members under the banner of Bangalore city Youth Congress Committee, KPCC general secretary M. Ramachandrappa said the police had booked cases under several sections of the Indian Penal Code against Mr. Renukacharya.

He said that Jayalakshmi, secretary of a charitable education trust, made an attempt to commit suicide, as she was unable to bear the torture and harassment of the BJP legislator.

S.T. Somashekar, chairman, Karnataka State Housing Federation and M. Suresh, KPCC member, also addressed the press conference.

They alleged that the police had not arrested the BJP leader, even though a first information report had been filed against him 12 days ago.

They feared that Ms. Jayalakshmi might not get justice, and termed as "unfortunate" the fact that teh BJP leaders such as Babubhai Katara and Mr. Renukacharya were getting protection from their party.

They demanded that Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Home Minister M.P. Prakash order the immediate arrest of the MLA.

"Why is the Janata Dal (S) hesitant to take action against its coalition partner?" they asked.

Wordy duel

The leaders had a wordy duel with Deputy Commissioner of Police (Vidhana Soudha security) Lakshman Singh when he asked them to disperse from the Basaveshwara Circle where the Congress workers were raising slogans against the Government.

They advised the police not to succumb to pressure from the BJP and instead arrest the MLA immediately.

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