People will be betrayed if Yeddyurappa prevents budget

Bangalore, Jan 23: To deny a state its

that contains funds for welfare, development and continuation of government business, and in the same breath talk of welfare of people, is nothing but betrayal.

This is the situation in Karnataka today. The state budget is next month but in his anger to finish the BJP in the state, BS Yeddyurappa has set in motion events leading to the government's fall. In the name of people's welfare, Yeddyurappa wants to prevent Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar from presenting the budget.

Since his resignation from the BJP, the government has been under threat and it has affected the state machinery. If Yeddyurappa was serious about what he talks, he should review his tactics as he is not capable of coming to power with a handful of legislators in such short notice.

The BJP government in Karnataka today plunged into a fresh crisis with two ministers resigning and 11 more MLAs, loyal to Yeddyurappa, deciding to quit their assembly membership.

Hours after Public Works Minister CM Udasi and Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje gave their resignations to Shettar, the two along with 11 MLAs went to the Assembly Speaker's office to submit their resignation.

As neither Speaker KG Bopaiah, who was not in station, nor the Assembly Legislature Secretary Omprakash were present when the MLAs arrived and waited for an hour, an enraged Yeddyurappa rushed to the legislature building, insisting that the Shettar government had been reduced to a minority.

In a high drama, the agitated MLAs insisted that some official of assembly secretariat either receive their resignation letters or give an acknowledgement that they are not empowered to receive them.

Assembly Joint Secretary Jayatheertha Galagali told the MLAs "as Joint Secretary I can't accept it. Please come and submit resignations when Speaker comes to office."

Yeddyurappa, who recently floated the Karnataka Janata Party, said: "Shettar government has been reduced to a minority. He has no moral right to continue in office. He should call off his tour, return to the city and resign."

Yeddyurappa also attacked Bopaiah, who, he said, had been alerted yesterday about the resignation of MLAs, but has left on a tour.

"It is a shameless government. Shettar should meet the Governor and tender resignation of his government," he said.

Shettar, who left on an official tour in parts of North Karnataka, confirmed that the two ministers have resigned. Udasi said they have been hurt by the attitude of Shettar towards MLAs and Ministers supporting Yeddyurappa, adding, the time has come to build KJP.

A cloud of uncertainty has been hanging over the Shettar ministry ever since Yeddyurappa quit the party to float his KJP in December last. The former BJP strongman has repeatedly put the government on notice about their stability, claiming support of 20-30 BJP MLAs.

Brushing aside the threats to his government, Shettar has said he would present the state budget on Feb 8, the last ahead of assembly polls due in May.

The MLAs who have offered to quit are Udasi (Hangal), Nehru Olekar (Haveri), Thippeswamy (Challakere), BP Harish (Harihar), H Halappa (Sorab), Suresh Gowda Patil (Byadgi), Shobha Karandlaje (Yeshvanthpura), SI Chikkangoudar (Kudgol), DS Suresh (Tarikere), G Shivanna (Ranebennur), M Chandrappa Holakere), Sunil Vallyapur (Chincholi), Ramanna Lamani (Shirahatti) and Basavaraj Patil Attur (Basavakalyan).

With PTI inputs