Guv rejects Karna Cabinet plea, CM demands apology for remarks

Bangalore, Jan 21 (PTI) Tension grew today betweenKarnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Governor H RBhardwaj who rejected a Cabinet resolution asking him not toaccord prosecution sanction against the BJP leader whodemanded an apology for his controversial remarks.

The Chief Minister also said a delegation of BJP''sCentral leaders and MPs from the state would meet PresidentPratibha Patil on January 24 in New Delhi to bring to hernotice the conduct of the Governor and demand his recall.

In a hard-hitting letter to Yeddyurappa with him whom hehas strained relationship, the Governor told him bluntly thathe cannot "put a lid" on serious allegations of corruptionand said the state government''s plea was "unwarranted."

An angry Chief Minister while demanding an''unconditional apology'' from Bhardwaj for branding the stategovernment''s request to drop proceedings for his prosecutionon corruption charges as a "case of a thief admonishing apoliceman" said his remarks has insulted people of the state.

Upping the ante, the state BJP Core Committee decided toorganise protests against the Governor in all district andtaluk headquarters to press for his immediate recall.

BJP legislators and Ministers would also hold "RajBhavan Chalo" on January 25 demanding that Bhardwaj "vacateRaj Bhavan", state unit spokesman Ayanur Manjunath said.

It is also learnt that the BJP government is mullingadopting a resolution demanding governor''s immediate recall.

Referring to the January 19 cabinet meeting resolutionsent to him, Bhardwaj said "The sum and substance of theCabinet decision is it simply requires me to put a lid on theserious allegations of corruption against you(chiefminister)."

The state cabinet resolution had asked the Governor todrop the proceedings to prosecute Yeddyurappa and HomeMinister R Ashoka on alleged scams on the basis of a complaintfiled by lawyers'' forum, saying such a move was nothing shortof a "farce and colourable" exercise on his part.

Quoting a Supreme Court order, Bhardwaj pointed out inhis letter "the Governor is entitled to and required to takean independent decision on the basis of the material availableand therefore the Cabinet decision recommending to drop theconsideration of the petition itself is unwarranted".

Bhardwaj said "You are aware, allegations relating toland scams, corruption and manipulation of rules andregulations regarding acquisition and denotifying of publiclands regularly appeared in the media since September 2010".

Allegations of serious nature of corruption werelevelled against the high office of the Chief Minister byvarious groups, which delivered representations to himpersonally and thus creating a cloud on his (Yeddyurappa''s)personal integrity, Bhardwaj said in his letter.

Yeddyurappa, who has also convened an emergent cabinetmeeting here tomorrow to discuss the fresh developments, said,"for his remarks, he (Bhardwaj) should tender an unconditionalapology. He has insulted the people of the state." PTI MSR BNRA GSN