Udupi (The Hindu): The members of the district unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mahila Morcha staged a dharna in front of the Clock Tower here on Saturday demanding the abolition of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) by the State government.

Addressing the protestors, Sheela K. Shetty, zilla panchayat member and mahila morcha leader, said that the whole purpose of the State government in forming the ACB was to weaken the institution of Lokayukta. By doing so, the government wants to protect the ministers in the State Cabinet who face charges of corruption, she added.

The institution of Lokayukta had earned a good name by its impartial and thorough investigations against politicians and bureaucrats. The ACB would be under the thumb of the bureaucrats and State Cabinet and could not be expected to function impartially, Ms. Shetty said. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should tender his resignation for forming the ACB. “It (State government) should disband the ACB immediately. If it fails to do so, the BJP will intensify its agitation against,” she said.

Ms. Shetty said that the leakage of the chemistry question paper of II PU twice within 10 days was a testament to the efficiency of the Siddaramaiah government. The leakage of the question paper was a handiwork of some top-level politicians and bureaucrats, she said.

The State government had also played politics in announcing the reservation for the posts of the presidents and vice-presidents of the newly elected zilla and taluk panchayats. The reservation list in many places was aimed at bringing the Congress to power through the backdoor, where it did not enjoy any majority, Ms. Shetty said.

BJP Mahila Morcha leader Sandhya Ramesh, Sumita Nayak, Reshma Shetty, Rashwita Shetty, Laxmi Billava, Pooja Rai, and Gitanjali Suvara were present.