President of the State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party K.S. Eshwarappa said on Sunday that Governor H.R. Bharadwaj appeared to have lost faith in democratic system because he had referred the anti-cattle slaughter Bill to President Pratibha Patil.
Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Eshwarappa said that both the State Legislative Assembly and the Council had passed the Bill. The Governor should have given his assent to it in the routine course.
The anti-cattle slaughter Act was in force in 18 States of the country and none of the Governors in those States had referred the respective Acts to the President. “Mr. Bharadwaj's action shows that he does not believe in the democratic system,” Mr. Eshwarappa said.
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Stating that a large number of people revered the cow, he said, “I urge the Governor to respect the people's sentiments. He should get the Bill back from the President.”
A delegation of the BJP MPs and senior leaders from the State, under the leadership of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, would meet the President in New Delhi on August 9.
“We will explain the Bill and seek her approval for the Bill. We are confident that the President will give her nod,” he said.
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About former Prime Minister Deve Gowda's reported statement that old cows should be left in front of the Keshav Kripa, the headquarters of Sangh Parivar in Bangalore, Mr. Eshwarappa said that Mr. Gowda should not have made such an insensitive remark about old cows. The Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) should not insult old cows. Both these parties were making such statements only to get votes from Muslims and Christians, he said.
To a question, he said the “Sadhana Samaveshas” of the BJP were not in response to the “padayatra” of the Congress. Such samaveshas are aimed at strengthening our organisation,” he said.
BJP leaders A.G. Kodgi, Udaykumar Shetty and T.V. Hegde were present.