The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and the Congress stoutly defended Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj, a day after the Centre rejected his report to dismiss the Yeddyurappa-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in that State.
“The Governor performed his duty and we took our decision,” Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said on Monday, ruling out the possibility of recalling Mr. Bhardwaj, a demand the BJP has been making vociferously.
Echoing that stand, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said: “The Governor is a constitutional entity and he performed his role on the basis of his appreciation of the ground situation. The government, after applying its mind, decided it wasn't possible to impose President's Rule in Karnataka.”
An advisory from the Home Ministry will be despatched to the Karnataka government on Tuesday, drawing “its attention to a number of issues reported by the Governor,” Mr Chidambaram said. These included “repeated instances of corruption, resignations of Ministers following allegations of corruption, instances of illegal mining, the report of the Central Empowered Committee on Illegal Mining, complaints by the Lok Ayukta and reports of discrimination against and oppression of minorities.”
