From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, July 8: In the first hard-hitting reaction from the Congress party for ousting coastal Dakshina Kannada’s second Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and replacing him with Jagadish Shettar, a nominee of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa presently facing CBI probe on corruption charges and other irregularities besides the ignominy of spending three weeks in jail, Union Corporate Affairs Minister M Veerappa Moily said the BJP has meekly ``surrendered” to the dictates of Yeddyurappa.

``What are the reasons for the removal of Sadananda Gowda and replacing him with Shettar?,” asked the first chief minister from the coastal region who hails from Karkal while Gowda is from the neighbouring Sullia taluk in Dakshina Kannada district.

Pointing out that he was totally opposed to the BJP ideology, especially its policy of encouraging communal hatred and the Hindutva ideology, Moily felt Sadananda Gowda had sincerely worked for providing a clean administration and cleansing the government from the taint of corruption, which had ruined Karnataka’s image all over the country.

``Here is a chief minister from a party which bragged from roof-tops claiming to be a party with a difference and was unceremoniously removed merely because a man, who had undergone three weeks in jail on court orders and is going through CBI investigation after being ordered by the highest court in the land, Supreme Court, demands his removal. Is this BJP’s commitment to check corruption?,” he asked.

The BJP has been encouraging corruption and dividing the people on caste and communal lines as is evident from Gowda’s removal and replacement with Shettar, he said.

The Congress leader said the BJP high command has succumbed to the terms and conditions of the Lingayat strongman and former Chief Minister Yeddyurappa and decided to continue corrupt administration by appointing Shettar as the successor to Gowda.

``The BJP has been never serious about ending graft from the State or the country; it relishes double speak and practice hypocrisy,” he said wondering how the party which came to power with the promise to provide a stable and strong government can justify having three chief ministers in four years.

Moily sought to know the reasons for the removal of Gowda from the Chief Minister’s post when he made an attempt to cleanse the administration.

``What is the benefit for the people? What is the benefit for the State?” he asked and made it clear that he was completely opposed to appointing the Chief Minister on caste lines.

By dislodging Gowda, the BJP high command encouraged corruption, nepotism and mal-administration in the State.

``The BJP bowed to the pressure tactics of Yeddyurappa and removed Gowda even though there were no allegations against him,” Moily said wondering how long would Yeddyurappa tolerate Shettar especially in view of the fact that he had personally ensured that Gowda was made the Chief Minister following his resignation opposing Shettar’s candidature.

Noting that the BJP has been paying price for poaching of MLAs from other political parties for its survival through its controversial ``Operation Kamala,” Moily said adding, ``No attempt has been made to provide people friendly administration during the last four years of the BJP rule.”