Yeddyurappa demands unconditional apology from Governor

Bangalore, Jan 21 (PTI) As the friction between hisgovernment and Governor H R Bhardwaj intensified, ChiefMinister B S Yeddyurappa today demanded an "unconditional"apology from him for making certain remarks against hisministry which he said had insulted the people of the state.

Yeddyurappa, who has also convened a cabinet meeting heretomorrow to discuss the fresh developments, said, "For hisremarks, he (Bhardwaj) should tender an unconditionalapology. He has insulted the people of the state."

"There is a need to take certain decisions. I have calleda cabinet meeting tomorrow", an angry Yeddyurappa toldreporters before attending the BJP Core Committee meet, whichwould discuss the Governor''s latest outbursts.

It is learnt that the government is mulling adopting aresolution demanding immediate recall of the Governor.

Launching fresh onslaught on the BJP government, Bhardwajhad yesterday likened the state cabinet resolution asking himto drop proceedings on a complaint seeking permission toprosecute Yeddyurappa over alleged land scams to a "thiefadmonishing the police", evoking sharp protests from the BJP.

The state cabinet had on Wednesday passed the resolutionasking the Governor to drop the proceedings to prosecuteYeddyurappa and Home Minister R Ashok on a complaint with him,saying such a move was nothing short of a "farce andcolourable" exercise on his part.

The fresh provocation for BJP came from Bharadwaj''s "ultachor kotwal ko dante" remark yesterday that mocked at thecabinet resolution.

Dashing off a letter to the Governor last night withinhours after Bhardwaj''s sniding remarks, an angry Yeddyurppaaccused him of having "lowered the dignity of the ChiefMinister, the entire cabinet and thereby the voters".

Yeddyurappa today said a delegation of BJP Central leadersand MPs from the state would meet President Pratibha Patil onJanuary 24 at Rastrapathi Bhavan.

"The delegation will bring to the notice of the Presidentthe conduct of the Governor and demand his recall", he said.

The chief minister alleged that the governor had asked himto dissolve the Assembly.

The state BJP is also holding a meeting of its CoreCommittee and its executive today to chart out its futurecourse of plans to take on the Governor.

BJP Central Leadership rushed its General SecretaryDharmendra Pradhan, in-charge of party affairs inKarnataka, to the city today. Pradhan held brief consultationswith state unit leaders and took stock of the situation.

Bhardwaj said yesterday he would take a decision in twodays on the complaint by a lawyers forum seeking permission toprosecute Yeddyurappa and Home Minister R Ashoka.

Immediately after the Governor''s fresh barbs, the BJPmounted a sharp attack on him and deputed an eight-memberministerial team to counter him before Yeddyurappa wrote anangry letter, deploring his remarks.