Kundapur : Former chief minister and BJP National Vice President DV Sadananda Gowda has called upon gram panchayat members to resort  to a state wide protest against the Karnataka Panchayat Raj(Amendment) Bill-2013.

He was  participating in a protest organized by gram panchayat members of the BJP at Kundapur on July 1, Monday against the Amended Bill. Sadananda Gowda further said the Bill will affect decentralisation of power at the gram panchayat level. He said the state government which was over confident was hell bent upon implementing anti-people policies which are detrimental to the interests of the state.

He said the powers to be given to regional commissioners to disqualify gram panchayat presidents who fail to convene two Gram Sabhas in a year, is highly unwelcome.

He also stated that the BJP will not allow the Bill to be passed in the Legislative Council.

Kota Srinivas Poojari, former minister, Uday Kumar Shetty, Udupi District BJP President, TingaleVikramarjun Hegde and others participated in the protest.