The ruling BJP in Karnataka on Wednesday decided to stage a dharna along with its ministers and legislators in Delhi, demanding the sacking of the state's Governor H R Bhardwaj for his outbursts against its government and some ministers.
BJP Core Committee which met in Bangalore 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 yesterday 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 yesterday 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.
In Delhi, a worried BJP top brass held a meeting to discuss its future strategy.
"Today the BJP Central leadership met informally and exchanged views on many national state-level issues. In Karnataka, the Congress after losing the mandate, is trying to destablise the popular government of Yeddyurappa. But these machinations will not bear any fruit," senior party leader Ananth Kumar said.
Kumar alleged that Congress was "constantly trying" to destablise the BJP government which was doing good work for the development of Karnataka.
Central leaders, including L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Kumar, M Venkaiah Naidu, Rajnath Singh, Murli Manohar Joshi, among others, met at the residence of BJP president Nitin Gadkari to discuss the crisis in Karnataka.
"The honourable governor of Karnataka is making such statements and indulging in activities beyond the purview of his constitutional powers," Kumar told reporters after the meeting.
"A governor should not be acting in tandem with any political party, more so the Congress. We hope the President will take cognizance of the matter and give suitable advise to him," Kumar said.
Party sources said BJP is in favour of an inquiry by the Lokayukta or any authority at the state level but is wary of the CBI being involved.
The leaders decided to launch a counter-attack on the Congress and also take on the Governor, sources said.
"On the mining issue, the Central government should call a meeting of all states involved in mining and take a policy decision on how much mining should be permitted, whether value-addition should be done within the country and how much should be exported," a top BJP leader said. PTI
