Cong urges Gov to sack BJP Govt for 'inducing defections'

Bangalore, July 10 (UNI) Congress in Karnataka today urged Governor Rameshwar Thakur to dismiss the BJP Government for allegedly encouraging defection of Opposition legislators using money power amounting to violation of the Constitution.

In a letter submitted to Mr Thakur, KPCC President Mallikarjuna Kharge said Legislators Anand Asnotikar, J Narasimhaswamy (both Cong) and Shivanagouda Naik and Balachandra Jarkiholi of the JD(S) had defected to the BJP by resigning from Assembly within two months.

''These defections have been engineered by the BJP and its leadership by inducing them with money in crores and offering positions of power which is nothing but murder of democracy.

''This amounts to violation of Constitution of the country,'' he charged.

This type of undemocratic and unethical approach of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his Cabinet colleagues had to be prevented in the interest of high democratic values.

''We request you to recommend the dissolution of this undemocratic government and order for an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation about the entire episode of the defections,inducements and giving positions of power through unlawful means,'' he urged.

UNI RS MV LS AS2058