Bengaluru : BJP legislators on Friday staged a dharna in front of Health Minister U T Khader’s office at Vikas Soudha protesting delay on the State government’s part in regularising the service of 3,500 nurses.

As many as 10 legislators, including former ministers Kota Srinivas Poojari, S Suresh Kumar and Ramachandra Gowda, staged dharna for nearly two hours. But it was a silent protest without any slogan shouting. Khader was not present at his office at the time of protest.

Speaking to reporters, Suresh Kumar said the government has not done anything to regularise the service of the nurses in the last two years. The previous BJP government had in 2013 approved a proposal to regularise their services. Even the Finance Department had given its nod. The then government could not implement the decision due to model code of conduct in force, he said.

Kota Srinivas Poojari said the health minister had assured the Legislative Council in the previous legislature session to regularise the service in a week’s time. But nothing has been done so far. Hence, it was decided to stage the protest, he added. The minister, in a press release, stated that the BJP leaders are staging protest despite him assuring that he will take all necessary steps to resolve the issue at the earliest.

The protesters said they will resume their protest on June 29 at Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi where the monsoon session of the legislature is scheduled to commence.