Accusing the rebels of trying to dislodge him at a time when the State government was grappling with the disaster caused on account of the recent floods, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Sunday said he would not allow the interests of the State to be compromised at any cost.
“When lakhs of people have become homeless, there are politicians, who are fighting for the chair. They want to destabilise the government. But, I will not allow the interests of the State to be pledged,” Mr. Yeddyurappa said after launching a commemorative postage stamp of film actor Rajkumar at a function organised jointly by Postal Department and the State Information Department. Though Mr. Yeddyurappa did not name anybody, the Chief Minister was clearly referring to the dissident activity spearheaded by the Ministers from Bellary district — G. Karunakar Reddy, G. Janardhana Reddy and B. Sriramulu.
The Chief Minister said that the people of the State would not approve of the designs of these vested interests. “I have the strength to overcome this situation,” he said and dismissed the activities of the dissidents as “stunts.”
He emphasised the need remain united at a time when the State was carrying out relief and rehabilitation work for the flood-hit victims. “We should not create a situation in which we would have to bow their heads in shame,” he said. During the course of his address, Mr. Yeddyurappa also referred to the discussion he had with Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha K. Rehman Khan and former Minister R. Roshan Baig.
“They told me what people in Mumbai are talking about the political situation in Karnataka. I am very much hurt after hearing it,” he said.
Later, Mr. Baig told journalists that he shared with the Chief Minister the questions he had been posed during his recent visit to Mumbai. Earlier, Mr Yeddyurappa acknowledging the receipt of Rs. 50 crore from BDA and Rs. 60 lakh from Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce towards Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to take up flood relief activities, said, a total of Rs. 1,500 crore had poured in from various donors for the purpose. “We have the onerous task of building an estimated four to five lakh houses”, he said.
Union Minister of State for Railways K. H. Muniyappa, said the Centre was committed to support the State government tackle the flood crisis in the State. “In politics, there will also be ups and downs, you don’t have to lose hope,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, 13 BJP MPs and Law Minister Suresh Kumar left for Delhi on Sunday morning to meet the party central leaders. The political activities remained low key in Bangalore as the Chief Minister was away from the capital for some time and the focus was on the developments in Delhi, where Speaker Jagadish Shettar and Home Minister V. S. Acharya held separate talks with Central leaders.
