Bhardwaj 'fed up' with corruption and land grab

There is constitutional breakdown, says Governor

“Everyday I see reports in newspapers on land-grabbing and denotification of land in violation of the law”, he said.

Speaking to press persons, on Tuesday, the Governor vented his anger against the BJP rule. Those elected to serve the people were not governing the State.

Taking note of the plight of flood victims, he remarked that the poor had not got houses. The Centre released Rs 1,400 crore for relief works. Where had the money gone? “I cannot go and debate all this in the Assembly.” Bhardwaj said the he had no difficulty in declaring that a Constitutional crisis has overtaken the government. “There is no work going on,” he said indicating, that the government had stopped functioning.

He said he was deeply hurt by Chief Minister Yeddyurappa’s comment on his conduct. He had been cooperating with the Chief Minister since took over as the Governor. “There is no reason for grievances.” And yet, Yeddyurappa had called him “an agent of the Congress”.

‘Hurt by comments’

Taking serious exception to the Chief Minister’s comment, he said the verbatim report of the proceedings of the Assembly on Monday was “enough” for him to recommend the President’s Rule. The Constitutional system had broken down in the state. However, he preferred to give one more chance to the Chief Miniter to prove his majority in the Assembly because the BJP had gone to streets accusing him as partisan.

The Governor said the dissidence in the BJP had been there since he assumed the office of Governor. Last year, the Reddys hijacked 50-60 MLAs. That time he (the Governor) was sympathetic with the Chief Minister, because he had been elected by people of the state. “Had I been partisan I would have taken action then”, he said.

‘Am here to serve’

The Governor remarked that instead of disqualifying those hijacked the MLAs in 2009, the BJP had promoted them. “I am a Governor. My duty is to serve people of Karnataka, no political parties or individuals.”

Bhardwaj said he wanted to advise the Chief Minister. But the Chief Minister did not meet him. “My experience in Parliament stretches over 28 years. I would have given him some friendly advice”, he said.

The Chief Minister sacked four ministers and sent resignations of two more even after the date for the trust vote was fixed. “I cooperated with him in all his decisions. Because he is the head of the Cabinet”, he said.

Sakrama - bad law

The government passed 13 Bills without debate in the House. Even so, he assented to the Bills. “But Sakrama is a bad law. I can’t give my consent to it.”

Replying to a question he said he could not take action against police officers who entered the Assembly Hall on the instructions of the Government and the Speaker.

The world according to Guv

“I drafted the 10th schedule”

(Referring to the petitions in the High Court on the disqualification of MLAs, and the BJP’s charge that he was favouring the rebels)

“I will go back happily”

(Reacting to BJP’s demand that he should be recalled)

‘Motion disposed in a split second’

(In reference to the speed at which the Speaker had disposed of the confidence motion moved by the Chief Minister on Monday)

‘Do you think I allow anybody to script anything for me?’

(Reacting to the the BJP leaders’ jibes that his report to the Centre was scripted by the Congress)