Now a dharna from BJP to sack Bhardwaj

BJP Core Committee which met here under the leadership of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, resolved to hold the dharna in front of the Rashtrapati Bhavan to register the government's ire over the conduct of the governor, who on Tuesday sought action against two ministers, the Reddy brothers of Bellary, in the light of allegations of illegal mining against them.

Highly placed sources said those who attended the meeting expressed their anguish over the governor 'targeting' the BJP government and flayed his actions. The sources said a date would be fixed for the dharna after the completion of the state's current legislature session which has been disrupted in the wake of dharna resorted to by Opposition Congress and JDS demanding CBI investigation into the illegal mining scam.

Both the houses of the Legislatures have been witnessing turmoil since July 9 over the issue. Bhardwaj, who called on President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday in Delhi, told reporters that he has asked Yeddyurappa to take action against Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and his brother Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy in the wake of allegations of their involvement in illegal mining.

The governor, who has already referred a complaint seeking the disqualification of the Reddy brothers and Health Minister B Sreeramulu from their legislature membership to the Election Commission, had said "I have taken serious note of the issue. I have informed the Chief Minister of my concern and to the central government...whether they can continue as ministers and indulge in corrupt practices and make profit".

In his initial reaction, Karunakara Reddy on Tuesday said they would initiate legal action against the Governor for his remarks on corruption against them. The Core Committee meeting was attended by state BJP President K S Eswrappa, Ministers -- R Ashok, Basavaraj Bommai, Katta Subramanya Naidu and Jagadish Shettar, besides Yeddyurappa, sources said.

Yeddyurappa declined to comment on Bhardwaj's remarks on the Bellary ministers. "I will personally meet him (Bhardwaj) to know what's on his mind," he told reporters here.