CM hits out at 'flippant' Oppn

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Monday lashed out at the Opposition Congress and the JD(S) for “disrespecting the democratic principles and dragging the Raj Bhavan into politicking”.

Speaking in the Legislative Council, he said the Opposition parties had made it a habit to stage dharnas in the House over petty issues and were unwilling to discuss any issues.

“I told both the Houses that I am ready for a thorough discussion on the alleged scams for two days. But the Opposition parties refuse to relent. Now, they have gone to stage a dharna in front of the Raj Bhavan,” he said.

Yeddyurappa said he did not want politics to hinder the development of the State. The Opposition leaders were intolerant to the development work taken up by the ruling BJP, which had been appreciated by the chief ministers of various states, he said and pointed out that the US International Development Consortium had declared Karnataka and Gujarat model states for investment in the country.

Charging the Congress and the JD(S) with showing little interest in debating issues related to State’s development, the chief minister said they wanted the House sessions to be conducted according to their wishes. “That is impossible. I hope they co-operate at least in the smooth conduct of the budget session, which will be convened in February third week,” he said.

Sources said the chief minister would present the budget either on February 21 or 24.

JD(S) rally

Meanwhile, the JD(S) legislative party leaders on Monday took out a rally from their party office on Race Course Road to Raj Bhavan, protesting the alleged corruption in the State government.

Party leaders H D Revanna and M C Nanaiah, who led the rally, submitted a memorandum to Governor H R Bhardwaj, urging him to dismiss the government.

Addressing media persons after meeting the governor, Nanaiah said the BJP government was not only corrupt, but also taking anti-democratic decisions like disqualifying MLAs to hold on to power. The JD(S) has urged the governor to take appropriate action in this regard, he said.

The Congress, which had planned to join the rally, backed out at the last minute.

Police took some JD(S) workers into preventive custody in front of the Raj Bhavan as they were trying to stage a dharna.

Revanna said the party had decided to meet the President of India, the Prime Minister and the Congress president to press for its demand.

He said the national executive meeting of JD(S) would be held on January 19 and 20 at the Palace Grounds to chalk out plans to intensify protests against the “misrule” of the BJP government.