Karnataka Congress to Stage Protest in Belagavi Against Centre’s Alleged Misuse of Power

Belagavi, Dec 2025: The Karnataka Congress has announced a dharna (agitation) opposite the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi on Wednesday, protesting what it called the Centre’s misuse of power.

Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar addressed reporters late Tuesday night, stating that the protest follows the quashing of the National Herald case against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, which, he said, revealed the high-handedness of the central government. He also emphasized that the agitation would condemn the attempt to change the name of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA).

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, I, and all MLAs and MLCs will gather before the Mahatma Gandhi statue to stage the protest,” Shivakumar announced. He added that similar protests would be conducted across Bengaluru city, as well as at district headquarters and taluk centres to oppose the renaming of MGNREGA and to condemn hate politics.

Shivakumar also elaborated on the background of the National Herald case. “My brother D.K. Suresh and I were supposed to approach the Delhi Police regarding the case. We requested a copy of the FIR first. However, the Enforcement Directorate filed a chargesheet without registering an FIR, which is legally required. The National Herald is Congress property, and Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have faced undue harassment,” he said.

He clarified that complaints were lodged based on a petition by politician Subramanian Swamy against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda, and the Young Indian organisation. Shivakumar asserted that party workers had made donations to support the organisation, and that repeated summons from the ED had been handled legally. “The court quashed the case, stating it was not legally valid, which reflects the judiciary’s vitality in India,” he added.

Highlighting the symbolic importance of the protest, Shivakumar said, “We are marking 100 years since Mahatma Gandhi became president of the AICC in Belagavi. The MGNREGA scheme was named after him, and now there is an attempt to remove his name. This struggle has become inevitable in this context.”

He further reminded the public of the National Herald’s history, noting that the newspaper was established by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1937 and remains Congress party property. Donations were contributed by leaders and workers, and shares were never intended to be personal property.

“The quashing of the case strengthens faith in the judiciary, and I welcome it. I urge all legislators to set aside their work and attend the protest in Belagavi,” Shivakumar said. He added that similar protests would also be held in Delhi and across the country to send a unified message against misuse of power and attacks on democratic institutions.

The Karnataka Congress aims to combine this symbolic protest with public engagement, using the dharna to highlight concerns about the Centre’s actions while commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy in the state.