K'taka Cong blames BJP leaders for ''luring'' MLAs

Bangalore, July 8 (UNI) Karnataka Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge today held Bhratiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including party President Rajnath Singh and Opposition leader L K Advani, directly responsible for encouraging ''luring'' of MLAs from his party and Janata Dal (Secular).

Talking to newspersons here, he said State BJP Chief Sadanandagowda had said his party leaders approved entry of other party MLAs into the BJP after resigning, and this showed that the action had the approval by the party's national leadership.

This also shows the shape of things to come in the future during the Lok Sabha elections and how the BJP was preparing its strategy to promote defection from other parties, he added.

He said those loyal to the party would remain and not fall as victims to the sinister designs of the BJP. It was unfortunate that the BJP leaders had ''lured'' the MLAs by offering money and funds to develop their constituencies, he said.

By joining the BJP, these legislators had betrayed the electorate and the people should teach them a lesson when they recontest, he felt.

To a question, he said senior party leader Siddaramaiah would not quit the Congress as reported in a section of the media. It was for him to react why he was being inactive in the party affairs, he said.

He took exception to the ''style of accepting'' resignation letters by Speaker Jagadish Shettar and said the clarification issued by him in this regard was ''far from truth.'' His action would be questioned during the next session of the Assembly, he added.

Clarifying the stand taken by the Congress not to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a state delegation on July six, he said Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa wanted to cover up his lapses and hence the party chose not to join the all party delegation.

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