The Hindu : BJP to launch Statewide campaign

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 28, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

BJP to launch Statewide campaign

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Nov. 27. A State-wide campaign has been planned by the BJP to mobilise public opinion against the Congress Government led by S.M. Krishna for its "failure" to protect the State interests in the Cauvery issue, and its "unwillingness" to take action against those behind the multi-crore stamp paper racket.

The campaign will start with protest meetings on November 30 at district headquarters, in which the party will demand the resignation of the Chief Minister. These will be followed by rallies in Hubli (December 1), Mysore (December 7) Davangere (December 14), Belgaum (December 15), and Bangalore (last week of December).

A decision to launch the campaign was taken at an emergency meeting of the office-bearers of the State unit of the BJP, presidents and general secretaries of the district units, and legislators today. The President of the State unit of the party, Basavaraj Patil Sedam, presided over the meeting, according to the State unit General Secretary, Visveshvara Hegde, MLA, Dhruvanarayan, State unit Secretary, and Girijapathi, General Secretary, Chitradurga District unit. Addressing presspersons, they said participants at the meeting demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister in view of the Government's "failure" to protect the interests of the State in the Cauvery river water issue, its inability to secure the release of the former minister, H. Nagappa, who was kidnapped by the forest brigand, Veerappan, more than 90 days ago, and its "unwillingness" to take action against those behind the stamp paper racket.

The failure of the Government to get in touch with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa, to secure the safe release of Mr. Nagappa for 79 days reflected the state of the administration, the BJP leaders said.

The revelation by the former Director General and Inspector General of Police, C. Dinakar, in his book, "Veerappan's Prize Catch: Rajkumar", about the Chief Minister contacting Veerappan on a mobile phone, made the continuance of Mr. Krishna as Chief Minister untenable, they added.

Mr. Hegde said the BJP's membership drive had been extended till the end of December.

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