Bangalore: Eshwarappa's Remarks Against Governor Causes Furore, Dharna

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Dec 7: The ''unparliamentary” remarks of State BJP President K S Eshwarappa against Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj on the issue of delay in clearing the State Government’s recommendation on appointment of Justice Bannurmath as the Lokakyukta led to a furore in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly with the entire Opposition staging a dharna.

Though Eshwarappa’s remarks, which were later expunged by the Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah, the Congress and JD(S) members trooped into the well of the House demanding that the ruling party president must apologise and withdraw his remarks.

However, Eshwarappa remained firm in his criticism of the conduct of the Governor, who he alleged was acting as the agent of Congress party at the Centre and was adopting ''delaying tactics” in the appointment of the Lokayukta. The State BJP chief expressed doubts over the 'motives’ behind Bhardwaj’s decision of forwarding the Government’s anti-cow slaughter bill and a bill on regularisation of illegal constructions in the State to President Pratibha Patil.

''Why should I apologise? What I said is true,” Eshwarappa said making it clear that he was not criticising the institution of Lokayukta as it was a constitutional post. ''But the conduct of the Lokayukta is something I don’t agree with,” he insisted.

Enraged by the BJP leader’s unparliamentary remarks and unrepenting attitude, the Congress Opposition leader Siddaramaih and JD(S) leader H D Revanna led their respective party members to stage a dharna demanding an apology from Eshwarappa as they felt the Speaker’s decision of expunging the remarks was not enough.

The Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who was present in the House when the entire fracas erupted, contended that he disapproved of the remarks against the Governor, whom he held in high esteem and great regard. However, the Chief Minister said the Government had followed all the prescribed norms in the appointment of the Lokayukta and had even personally met him twice and provided answers to all the clarifications.

''The ball is in the court of the Governor now,” Gowda said during his intervention when JD(S) leader H D Revanna sought to move an adjournment motion alleging that government was deliberately adopting delaying tactics in the appointment of Lokayukta.
 
In the meanwhile, the Governor, while speaking to reporters said the Chief Minister was ''responding well to appoint a spotless judge as the new Lokayukta.”

''I will not take even a minute to ratify the appointment of a judge as Lokayukta if people of the state and the press have faith in him,” Bhardwaj told reporters but added he was in no hurry to address the issue as he did not want to bother the Chief Minister when the assembly session was underway.

The Lokayukta’s post is vacant after Justice V Shivaraj Patil quit on September 19 over a land controversy. The Government subsequently recommended former Kerala High Court Chief Justice S R Bannurmath for the post but his name was not accepted by the Governor following reports that he was alloted site reserved for civic amenities in the Judicial Layout.