Bengaluru: The Opposition Congress has resorted to night-long dharna in both the Houses of state legislature demanding the resignation of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S.Eshwarappa over his statement on the saffron flag may become the National flag in a day come and the same will be raised from the Red Fort.

Ruling BJP has back footed with the decision of the Congress, the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, former Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa had reached out to protesting Congress members in the Assembly on Thursday night, requested them to withdraw dharna.

However, Congress leaders have refused to withdraw dharna, they insisted resignation of Mr. Eshwarappa and register a sedition case against him.

The Speaker has sent meals to protesting opposition members. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, Deputy leader of Opposition U.T. Khadar, KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar, senior member K.R. Ramesh Kumar slept on the floor of the House.

Bedsheets, bed and pillow covers have been supplied to protesting members in the House. Congress has decided to continue dharna on Friday.

The speaker has called the opposition members for talks in his chamber, requested them to withdraw dharna and participate in the proceedings.

Congress members have asked the Speaker that, Mr. Eshwarappa at least seek the apology of the House for showing grave disrespect to the National flag. His statements against the National flag attract sedition charges. Instead of expressing regrets for his statement he once against stated that he told that one day, Bhagwa Dhwaj may become the National flag of the Nation and same would be raised from the Red Fort.

Before meeting protesting Congress members inside the House, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the opposition has misunderstood minister Eshwarappa's statement and is trying to create a wrong perception among the people. The opposition is showing an anti-people attitude over the issue, he said

Condemning the Congress protest, the Chief Minister said that the Congress party has hit the bottom politically as it is staging a protest dharna over a statement of minister Eshwarappa by propagating it as illegal while it had nothing that is violative of the law. It is not setting a good example. Congress should introspect. Even the people will not accept it, he advised grand old party.

Preventing the house from holding its session by staging the dharna is indefensible. People too will not approve of it, they will oppose it. Congress may be compelled to withdraw its dharna if the media and people interpret and convey it in the right manner. They are sacrificing the state's interests as they are concerned only with scoring political gains, Bommai said.

Day and night dharnas have been held many times in the past too in the Legislative Assembly, but they were usually over issues of public cause, farmers' interests, and the State's interests. There is nothing wrong with KS Eshwarappa's statement. It does not have any aspects against the law. The opposition has made it a big issue as they do not have any other issue. They are staging day and night dharna without any cause. it is not the way a responsible opposition functions. The opposition has completely forgotten its responsibility. They believe it would bring them political gains. But it would not bring them any dividends politically or in any other aspect, Bommais added.

Reacting to Muslim students' protests across the state Hijab issue, the Chief Minister has said that the people of the state, the society, and the State government are striving to bring the children back to classrooms to pursue their studies. Peace should be restored in schools and colleges of the State.

“Exams are scheduled to be held in March and it should not be affected. Confusion should not be created in the minds of the children. We all are trying to create a conducive atmosphere for the children to get back into academic activities”, CM said.

“We could have sent a good message from the Legislative Assembly. The issue is before the High Court and we need to abide by its order. The Judiciary has its own significance in the Constitution. We are working to send a positive message from the Assembly”, Mr. Bommai added

The Speaker held two meetings and tried to convince the opposition not to continue their dharna. But the opposition has conveyed that they would take it to a logical conclusion. But there is no logical end to this, Bommai said.