Karnataka shuts down over Yeddyurappa's prosecution

Bangalore, Jan 22 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for a statewide shutdown in Karnataka today to protest against Governor HR Bhardwaj's sanction for prosecution of Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa.

BJP has ruled out Yeddyurappa's resignation in the wake of the Governor's action.

Majority of shops and business establishments across the state remaining closed while schools declared a holiday as a precautionary measure.

Transport authorities maintained skeletal bus services in the city, causing hardship to commuters.

The Governor has directed DGP Ajai Kumar Singh to take all security measures to ensure that there is no trouble during the shutdown. he Governor's sanction for prosecution came on Friday.

Reacting to the prosecution sanction, Yeddyurappa said the Governor is behaving as an agent of Congress and the JDS.

"This is nothing but a broad day light murder of democracy and justice," he said.

A press communique issued by the Governor's Secretariat last night said Bhardwaj passed the order under section 19(1) of Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 197 of Criminal Procedure Code for prosecuting in an appropriate court of law. n a letter to Yeddyurappa, Bhardwaj told him that he cannot put a lid on serious allegations of corruption.

He said the Chief Minister did not furnish any details to his letter of December 15 last year seeking factual information on the allegations levelled against him. (ANI)