Dismiss Karnataka Government: Deve Gowda
New Delhi, Oct 25 (IANS): Former prime minister and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader H.D. Deve Gowda Monday urged the central government to "dismiss" the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka and end the "poaching" of Congress and JD-S legislators.
"There is no rule of law in Karnataka. The Yeddyurappa government is using all illegal ways including money, muscle and mining power to demolish the opposition parties and retain rule in the state. I demand
the dismissal of the Karnataka government instead of allowing the secular parties to sink," Deve Gowda told reporters here.
Deve Gowda warned that "Karnataka will be another Gujarat", if the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government failed to act.
"The issue before us is that the MLAs have been tortured and poached in Karnataka," the former prime minister said, adding that the BJP had launched "operation lotus" to poach legislators through horse trading.
Two Congress legislators and one JD-S lawmaker have resigned so far. The BJP is trying to save its first government in the state after 11 party legislators and five Independent lawmakers expressed lack of
confidence in Yeddyurappa Oct 6.
The 16 were disqualified and their appeal is now pending in the high court. The rebellion by 11 BJP legislators has reduced the party's strength to 106 in the 225-member house that includes one nominated member.
If the disqualification of the 16 is upheld by the court, the effective strength of the house will come down to 209 till by-polls are held to fill these vacancies.
Deve Gowda said this year's Diwali would be the "darkest Diwali" for the people of Karnataka and reiterated that the central government act against the Yeddyurappa government for ensuring smooth functioning of parliament.
Deve Gowda also criticised the Reddy brothers' role in the illegal mining in the state. State Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy and his elder brother and Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy are rich
iron ore mine owners.
"I wish to raise the illegal mining issue during the winter session of parliament," Deve Gowda said.