The issue of sanction for prosecution of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on “corruption charge” by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj was taken up in Delhi on Friday, with the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party locking horns over the issue.
While the Congress claimed that the Governor was only doing his constitutional duties, the BJP demanded Mr. Bhardwaj recall and said its senior leaders and Karnataka unit MLAs, MPs and MLCs, including the Chief Minister, would meet President Pratibha Patil on Mondayin this regard.
Congress spokesman Abishek Singhvi, during a press briefing, supported Mr. Bhardwaj's actions and said: “He [Mr. Bhardwaj] has the authority to consider...” He criticised the BJP of attempting to politicise the issue by seeking the Governor's recall.
Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka M. Venkiah Naidu, in a statement, said Mr. Bhardwaj had embroiled himself in several controversies with the State government and converted the Raj Bhavan into a Congress office and became a willing partner in the destabilisation move by the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular).
After using Governor's office for political purposes, Mr. Bhardwaj embarked upon a political confrontation with other constitutional authorities of the State. He wrote to the Speaker not to invoke his powers under 10th schedule and disqualify any defector. When that had failed, he recommended imposition of President's Rule which was perverse and motivated as Mr. Yeddyurappa enjoyed a clear majority. Within 24 hours of recommending President's Rule, he did volte-face and asked the Chief Minister to seek fresh vote of confidence.
The dirty tricks by the Governor and the Congress would backfire, he said.
