 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Yeddyurappa sets deadline for Karnataka governor
Virtually serving an ultimatum to H R Bhardwaj, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday threatened to plunge into an agitation against the governor, who had sought President's rule in the state, if the latter failed to give his approval by evening for convening the assembly from June 2.
"By this evening, news should reach me (from Raj Bhavan) that approval has been given for the (legislature) session," Yeddyurappa told reporters, a day after a brief bonhomie between the two amidst a raging political war.
Otherwise, the chief minister said he would embark on a state-wide tour in an open jeep, addressing road-side rallies to build public opinion from Friday.
Governor waiting for Centre's decision
A ministerial delegation, led by Yeddyurappa, met the governor on Wednesday and requested him to convene the session to pass the full budget.
Bhardwaj told him that he was awaiting the decision of the Centre on his recommendation to impose President's rule. He asked the chief minister to wait for a "day or two" on the issue of his approval for the session.
On the Congress planning to stage a dharna in Bangalore to seek the sacking of the government, Yeddyurappa came down heavily on Janata Dal - Secular supremo H D Deve Gowda and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwara for "trying to exert pressure" on the governor to dismiss the government.
'I will not leave that easily'
He flayed the Congress for its campaign seeking the ouster of the Bharatiya Janata Party government, saying the main opposition party is not honouring the people's mandate by seeking to topple a duly elected government.
The Congress neither has the capacity nor the strength to face the people, he said, noting that the BJP had won all the three assembly by-elections recently.
"I have dealt with them respectfully so far. Henceforth, I will expose their immoralities and scandals," Yeddyurappa said.
"I will not leave that easily," he said.