BY.FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA
THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER
GOVERNOR V/S GOVERNMENT
BJP FIGHTS TO SAVE CORRUPTION
The BJP Government headed by B.S Yeddyurappa furiously protested the Governor’s sanction to prosecute Yedurappa under prevention of corruption act, by holding the Karnataka bundh. There was however no need for BJP’s panic reaction as Yedurappa and his BJP had already declared that there will be no resignation and that they will fight the case. By holding Karnataka bundh at a very short notice, the Government inflicted untold miseries to the people. By rushing to hold the people for ransom for the corrupt practices of its Chief Minister, the BJP is now fighting for corruption rather than being against it.
AS EXPECTED
Nobody expected the Governor to reject the petitions of two advocates for prosecution of Chief Minister B.S Yeddyurappa under prevention of corruption act. As the petition was supported by irrefutable official documents, the Governor was bound to sanction the prosecution. The BJP leaders knew this well and therefore Yedurappa had air dashed to New Delhi to seek the help of the national BJP leaders. Arun Jaitley and a prominent advocate Ram Jethmalani were already consulted about the course of action in the event of the Governor according the sanction.
TACKLING THE GOVERNOR
It is another matter that attempts were made to force the Governor to defer the decision so that the BJP High command can force the Central Government to recall the Governor. The ‘Clever Heads’ of BJP had devised a novel plan to scuttle Governor’s move. First, Yedurappa held an emergency meeting of his cabinet and passed a resolution asking the Governor not to accord sanction for prosecution and the same was faxed to the Governor instead of personally handed over by a senior Minister. The BJP then started publicity blitz to paint the Governor as a great villain. At the same time, the BJP also chalked out a series of protests to demand the Governor to refuse sanction. The BJP president K.S Eshwarappa had then itself threatened to observe Karnata Bundh. The Governor was called names by the BJP leaders and even Ministers asked the Governor to behave properly.
The Governor had set January 20th as the deadline for the Government to hand over the original files to come to a decision. Even before the Governor could say anything, the BJP leaders were at his throat to force him or even blackmail him to refuse sanction for prosecution.
DEVIL QUOTING THE SCRIPTURES!
Now that the Governor has sanctioned the prosecution, the BJP leaders are acting as if the sky had fallen on them. Yedurappa is accusing the Governor of all things describing the same as an attack on democracy! This is just like the devil quoting the scriptures! How can a mere sanction of prosecution finish off the BJP Government? It is to be recalled that Yedurappa is surviving in the CM chair through manipulations, money and muscle power.
The Operation Kamala was a blot on democracy. The operation disqualification of 16 MLAs just before a vote of confidence was a mockery of democracy and abuse of constitutional position of the speaker. And now when the Supreme Court and High Court are about to deliver the Judgements in the disqualification cases, Yedurappa has already had a trick on his sleeve and has decided to ‘suspend’ 15 Congress and JDS MLAs from the Assembly to save his gaddi. In the event of disqualified MLAs getting favourable orders from the courts, Yedurappa will lose the CM post as the number against him will swell to 114 against 106 in his favour. To neutralize this threat, he will suspend 15 MLAs of the opposition on the basis of one sided report of a legislative committee consisting of only BJP MLAs. Thus, Yedurappa’s number of 106 will definitely remain higher than the opposition strength of 98, after the suspension! And shamelessly, Yedurappa accuses the Governor of murdering democracy!
However, the main point is that there are serious allegations of misuse and abuse of power and position by Yedurappa to help his family members. There are charges of firms operated by his kith and kin to collect the corruption tainted money. While the Lokayukta was approached with a complaint on these scams and before the Lokayukta initiates actions, Yedurappa preempted the move by ordering a judicial probe and entrusted the Lokayukta complaint also to the commission, which will take years to submit the report. The commission was constituted by Yedurappa just to buy time and the High Court has also ordered a stay on the commission.
The sanction by the Governor to prosecute Yedurappa is not the end of the road. Yedurappa will have to face the trial and if proved guilty, will have to go to jail and that will take years. But the panicky reaction by the BJP stems out from ‘moral’ angle.
MORAL HITCH!
Morally it is not proper for a CM to continue in the post while facing trial in a criminal court. Why go far? The same Yedurappa procured the resignation of Minister Katta Subramanium Naidu, hours after he was named in an FIR by the Lokayukta Police. The same hard stick applies to him also. But BSY cares two hoots for ‘morality’ in public life. His main motto is to continue as CM come what may. The national leaders of BJP are rallying behind him and had declared that he will not step down and that they will approach the High Court against the Governor’s decision. And BJP state president K.S Eshwarappa had ordered the Karnataka Bundh to protest against the sanction.
What does all this mean? If the BJP or Yedurappa fought against Central Government’ policies, price rise etc. there would be some justification. But what they are fighting is for the sake of corruption and for immunity against their corrupt practices. If Yedurappa is innocent, he can prove it and will be acquitted, what is so disturbing about just being allowed to be prosecuted?
They say’ BJP is a party with a difference’? Definitely, it is a party with a difference as it is publicly fighting for corruption and not against it! And that explains every thing!.
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