Bhardwaj cops flak from ministers

He has time and staff to send report to centre, but no time for legislators

Law Minister Suresh Kumar and six of his Cabinet colleagues, including senior ministers R Ashoka, V S Acharya and C M Udasi, addressed a joint press conference, and termed the Governor’s action as “deliberate” and “unconstitutional”.

“We approached the Governor twice seeking permission for conducting the session, but there has been no reply from him,” Suresh Kumar said. The Governor cited reasons of insufficient time and lack of staff to process the permission. “But the same evening a special report against the government was sent to the Centre. There was sufficient staff to send the report, but not to accord permission?”, Suresh Kumar wondered.

The ministers said the BJP will launch its agitation against Bhardwaj by staging a dharna in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue on MG Road on Friday.

Home Minister R Ashoka said the protest will be intensified from Saturday by taking it to other districts, if the Governor failed to relent on his stand. He said the chief minister would tour the State to educate people on the Governor’s attitude.

The ministers also accused Bhardwaj of being biased in favour of the Opposition parties.
“The Governor embarrassed the 10 BJP MLAs who had gone to meet him after returning from New Delhi to hand over their letter supporting Yeddyurappa’s leadership. The Governor had the time to meet members of Opposition party, but not for legislators of the ruling party,” they charged.

At a separate press conference, BJP spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar sought to know why Bhardwaj addressed the joint House of the State legislature early this year if the vote of confidence won by Yeddyurappa in October last year was unconstitutional.

He said the Governor has argued that the trust vote won by Yeddyurappa in October as unconstitutional and hence, he recommended dismissal of the government.
Bhardwaj’s intention behind recommending President’s rule is to run the administration in the State. He should immediately resign and leave the State, Kumar demanded.

“JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda and Bhardwaj are the villains in this entire episode. They have together hatched the conspiracy to topple the democratically elected Government,” Kumar claimed.