BJP facing consequences of 'Operation Lotus': Ugrappa

The BJP is now facing the consequences of ‘Operation Lotus’ by going against the spirit of democracy. This, inspite the people of Karnataka having given the party the power to rule the State for five years, criticised Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V S Ugrappa.

He was speaking to media persons here on Saturday, after taking part in the booth-level membership drive and 25th death anniversary of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Tumkur on Saturday.

The programme was organised by the District Congress Committee. Ugrappa said, BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ has made a devastating damage on the administration.

The party was now facing the consequences of its faulty devices, he said and added, when the entire region of north Karnataka was reeling under floods and the lives of the people there had come to a standstill, none of the BJP leaders like Rajnath Singh, L K Advani, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar bothered to tour these places and respond to the problems of the flood-victims.

Now when the seat of power is in peril, Arun Jaitley has rushed to Bangalore to settle the matters. It was most unfortunate to note that the BJP Government was not committed to solving the problems of the general public. Generous contributions have been made by the public and private parties and also the Union Government to rehabilitate the flood-victims.  But the State government had failed to effectively utilise these funds. The State was also facing insolvency, Ugrappa complained.

Infact, as per the rules laid down by the Constitution the Assembly Speaker should be away from politics. Going by the present circumstances, Jagadeesh Shettar has not gone against the rules laid down by the Constitution. Those leaders who are interested in party politics should resign from the Speaker’s post and involve themselves in active politics. This will pave way to healthy politics, the Opposition leader said, replying to a question. Hundreds of thousands of crores of rupees are being looted in Bellary district. The resources of the State are being enjoyed by somebody else. The Government should realise this and wake up from its slumber, he warned.

One month’s salary
As per the directions of the party leaders, all the Congress MLAs had forgone their one month’s salary for the aid of the flood victims. The Pradesh Congress has also strived a lot to seek loans from the Union government. Five teams from the Congress party had visited the 15 flood-affected villages of north Karnataka and have responded to the problems of the people who have been affected, there.
MLA T B Jayachandra, Dr G Parameshwar, Dr H C Mahadevappa, District Congress President Shafi Ahmad, leaders Rudrappa, Kenchamaraiah and several others were present at the press meet.

‘Government is in critical condition’
“The BJP government in the State is in a critical condition. This has severely affected the development works. Even the flood relief work has been stopped. People are having a tough time,” Opposition leader in the Legislative Council V S Ugrappa said here on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference, he asked the State government to take up the flood relief work on a priority basis.
“We will not interfere in the internal affairs of the BJP. Many BJP leaders themselves say that these developments are the result of Operation Kamala. If the BJP government falls, the party itself is to be blamed.”

Referring to senior BJP leader Murali Manohar Joshi’s statements that the Congress was responsible for the BJP crisis in the State, Ugrappa said it is an irresponsible statement.
“It is high time the party leaders stop issuing such statements. The RSS chief Mohan Bhagawat himself has said that the party should undergo chemotherapy. It means the BJP is on the deathbed,” the Oppostion leader added.