Published: Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010, 0:28 IST
By Harish Gupta | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_governor-takes-karnataka-corruption-row-to-delhi_1409482
Karnataka governor HR Bhardwaj has added fuel to fire in the ongoing battle between Congress and BJP in the state.
Bhardwaj, a former Union law minister, said he has asked chief minister BS Yeddyurappa to take action against two ministers who are accused of being involved in illegal mining in Bellary. The governor, who met president Pratibha Patil to apprise her of the problem, revealed to mediapersons the details of his conversation with Yeddyurappa. The ministers have threatened to take legal action against the governor for his remarks.
Though Bhardwaj did not name the ministers (tourism minister G Janardhana Reddy and revenue minister G Karunakara Reddy, brothers and mining barons) he did question their continuance in the government.
Bhardwaj went on to say, “He [CM] is a person who realises the problem.I told him you have appointed them ministers, so take action against them.He said he needed time. I have informed the CM and the central government of my concern... whether they can continue as ministers, indulge in corrupt practices and make profits.”
Though Bhardwaj spoke to the media at noon, there was no
reaction to the comments from Yeddyurappa. This fuelled speculation that the governor had only been trying to fish in the troubled waters of the beleaguered state BJP leadership. The BJP’s central leadership, obviously, jumped in.
Bhardwaj’s comment riled the party so much that spokesperson
Ravi Shankar Prasad accused him of acting as an “agent” of the Congress to destabilise the Karnataka government. The Congress retaliated sharply, saying the allegation against Bharadwaj has vitiated the atmosphere. “The BJP is now practicing terror of language by attacking persons holding constitutional positions. This debases political discourse,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said.
Political observers believe the governor was very cautious when he made the disclosure — he neither named the ministers nor declared he will sack them. Rather, he made an attempt to draw attention to the helplessness felt by the chief minister. The governor is duty-bound to apprise the president and central government of any crisis facing states. Bhardwaj had already referred to the Election Commission a complaint against the two ministers for holding office of profit.
In recent weeks, the issue of illegal mining and the allegation that the government is shielding members who participate in it were at the heart of the resignation of Karnataka lokayukta Santosh Hegde. It is no secret that lakhs of tonnes of iron ore had been exported without paying taxes.
For two days, the opposition has not been letting the assembly function. Therefore, what the governor did may be unwarranted, but it is not unconstitutional, analysts said.
