New Delhi: A worried BJP top brass today
held a meeting to discuss its future strategy to counter
charges by Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj on the issue of
illegal mining and corruption against the B S Yeddyurappa
government in the state.
"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.
Bhardwaj had called on President Pratibha Patil and
apprised her of the political situation in Karnataka.
While responding to questions from the media, he had
asked for the removal of the Bellary brothers- Tourism
Minister G Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister G Karunakara
Reddy without naming them and suggested that a CBI inquiry be
ordered in the case of alleged illegal mining by them.
"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
