Karnataka JD(S) President Merajuddin Patel

took strong exception on former Deputy Chief Minister B S

Yediyurappa's statement on former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and

for declaring 'holy war' against the party.

In a statement here, Mr Patel, countering BJP leader's

allegation that former Prime Minister Deve Gowda had betrayed the

BJP on the power transfer issue, said ''Mr Gowda always maintained

his stand of keeping equidistant from both the BJP and Congress.''

''Yediyurappa has no moral rights to criticise Mr Gowda,'' he

asserted.