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'Cong misusing Governor's office to settle scores'
Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari, who is currently on a visit to China, on Saturday criticised the Congress party for 'misusing the office of the Governor to settle scores against its political opponents in the same manner in which it has been misusing the CBI'.
In a written statement released by the party headquarters, Gadkari "Denotification of land is privilege and right of Chief Minister given by law. Nothing is wrong with it. Before Yeddyurappa, (former Chief Ministers H D) Kumarasamy, Dharma Singh and S M Krishna exercised it several times. Governor has not taken action against them because they belonged to Congress," he said.
"Only thing is that BJP and I personally feel that denotifying land for his (Chief Minister's) son, though it is a legal decision, on the ground of morality, I think it is not good. It is not proper and immoral I think," he said.
If it is illegal why the government has not taken action against the previous chief ministers, he asked.
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'People have lost faith in the Governor'
Gadkari alleged the Governor's decision was politically motivated and that he was working under the directives of Congress.
It is total discrimination, Gadkari said, claiming that many number of cases filed against Yeddyurappa are politically motivated.
"They are misusing the institution of Governor and creating problems for democracy in the country. It is unfortunate that the institution of Governor is diluted in such a way that people have lost faith," he said.
Former party president M Venkaiah Naidu alleged, "After having allowed the use of Governor's office for political purposes he (HR Bhardwaj) embarked upon a political confrontation with other constitutional authorities of the state. He wrote to the Speaker not to invoke his powers under 10th schedule and disqualify any defector. When that failed, he recommended imposition of President's Rule, which was motivated, particularly in the backdrop of the fact that the chief minister enjoyed a clear majority. Within 24 hours of recommending President's Rule he did a volte face and asked the chief minister to seek fresh vote of confidence."
'Governor has lowered the dignity of the CM'
Naidu took strong objection to Bhardwaj's running commentary on BJP government in the state also on the ministers in the state government.
"He himself levelled corruption charges on the government forgetting that he is holding a constitutional office and that decorum and restraint are required in a constitutional authority. The history sheet of extra-constitutionalism indulged in by the Governor dis-entitles him to occupy a worthy constitutional office."
"Now he wants to permit prosecution of the chief minister and other ministers. When the state cabinet met and passed a resolution requesting the Governor not to permit prosecution, he unabashedly says that the Cabinet requesting him not to permit prosecution is like a thief complaining to the police. By this he has lowered the dignity of the Chief Minister and the entire Cabinet and by that the people of Karnataka," Naidu charged.
'The dirty tricks will backfire'
The BJP MPs will meet President Pratibha Patil on January 24 to apprise her about the atrocities committed by the Governor. Thereafter, all the BJP MLAs, MLCs and MPs will organise a protest dharna on January 25 in front of Raj Bhawan. The BJP will also take up this issue in a big way in the ensuing session Budget session of Parliament.