BJP will not accept any JD(S) demand, asserts Rajnath

New Delhi, Nov 19 (UNI) The BJP today directed its Karnataka unit not to accept any demands or conditions set by JD(S) to support the party government in the southern state.

The directive was communicated to Karnataka BJP, asking it to turn down the 12-point charter of demands by the JD(S) in return for its support to the B S Yeddyurappa government, party president Rajnath Singh said here.

He said the change in JD(S)' stance was nothing short of ''betrayal''.

''When the party was on the verge of a breakdown it had approached the BJP to form the government in Karnataka. When we were not willing to believe them, they persisted that their support would be unconditional...but changed their stance once they recouped,'' he charged.

He asserted that the BJP, under no circumstances, will bow down to the demands of JD(S).

Reacting to the allegations that the BJP was trying to break the JD(S), Mr Singh said it was just an excuse and the party was on the verge of a breakdown on its own. ''That is the reason that their MLAs have given individual affidavits before the Governor, pledging support to the BJP.'' ''We will go before the people and seek a fresh mandate. We will not be cowed down by such blackmails,'' he said.

The B S Yeddyurappa government is facing a vote of confidence in the Karnataka Assembly today and even though the BJP is the single largest party in the House it could not prove majority sans JD(S) support.

UNI