Governor Studying Request for Prosecuting CM, Minister
Bangalore, Jan 18 (PTI): Governor H R Bhardwaj today said he is looking into a petition seeking permission to prosecute Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and a minister for alleged land scams, but termed the issue as ''ticklish''.
"It is under consideration. There are so many angles. It is a very ticklish issue", Bhardwaj told reporters here when asked about the petition to prosecute Yeddyurappa and Home Minister R Ashok filed by 'Justice Lawyers Forum.'
"It is a very difficult thing. I have to study and complete it. There are various issues... whether I am legally competent to deal with it, secondly on merits... there are so many documents. All this will have to be studied and decision will then be taken without delay," he said.
Yeddyurappa has been facing allegations of illegal denotification of land belonging to Bangalore Development Authority. He has also been charged with allotment of plots under discretionary quota to his family members. Ashok is facing charges relating to illegal denotification of land.
On the proposed BJP delegation to Delhi to demand his recall, the Governor said, "Everybody has the right to say what they like. There is freedom of speech. They are entitled to say what they want.I have no problems at this stage to go anywhere. So long as I am here I will do my duty," he said.
When asked about his meeting with JDS leaders, he said it was not only the JDS but also BJP ministers who met him yesterday.
"Many people meet me. It is their privilege that whenever anyone wants to come to Raj Bhavan, they are most welcome... You judge, why they come and why they go," Bhardwaj, who has often been at odds with the Yeddyurappa government on several issues, said.
It is learnt that the Governor has been seeking advice of legal and constitutional experts. Bhardwaj has also sought details of sanctions granted by the governors of various states to prosecute the chief ministers and studying Supreme Court verdicts delivered on the issue, sources said.
Meanwhile, sensing trouble, Yeddyurappa rushed to Delhi today along with some of his ministerial colleagues to discuss the matter with BJP high command. Sources close to the Chief Minister said Yeddyurappa is likely to consult Arun Jaitley and some leading advocates on the course of action to be initiated in the event of the Governor giving permission to prosecute him.
The Opposition Congress and JDS have been meeting the Governor frequently to press for an early decision on the Lawyers Forum petition. Irked by the repeated meetings of the opposition leaders with the Governor, Yeddyurappa today threw a gauntlet at former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and his son H D Kumaraswamy to come for a public debate on the allegations of corruption against him.
"I am ready to organise this debate in the banquet hall of the Vidhana Soudha (State Secretariat). Let there be a team of jury comprising retired judges. Let Gowda and his son have their say. I will also reply to the charges," Yeddyurappa told reporters here.
"The allegations made by Gowda and his sons have dented the image of the state and had an adverse impact on the development of the state. There should be an end to it," he said.