From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Mysuru, Aug 2: Directly accusing the Centre of misusing Raj Bhavan of attempting to destabilise an elected government, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said State Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot was acting like a puppet.
Speaking to media persons at Mysuru airport on his way to Kodagu district for reviewing the rain devastation, he said the show cause notice issued by the Governor was illegal and anti-constitutional.
Siddaramaiah said he deliberately kept away from the State Cabinet meeting held in Bengaluru on Thursday as it was convened to discuss the Governor’s show cause notice to the government on the MUDA scam and asked Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to chair the meeting in order to avoid setting a bad precedent.
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The State Cabinet has held a detailed discussion on the show cause notice to the government on the MUDA issue asking why the sanction for prosecuting the Chief Minister cannot be given and pointed out that the show cause notice was completely illegal and the State Cabinet has rightly decided to ask the Governor to withdraw the notice.
KJ Abraham is Blackmailer
Social activist K J Abraham, who has lodged a complaint and asked the governor for permission to prosecuting the Chief Minister “is an habitual blackmailer” and contended that he has given similar complaints against several persons.
Explaining the chronology of the events, the Chief Minister said Abraham submitted his complaint on July 26 at 11.30 am and the Governor has issued the show cause notice on the same day. “How can a decision be taken in less than a day on a legal issue especially when it is about the Chief Minister elected by 136 MLAs? Is it not necessary to examine all legal aspets,” he asked.
Siddaramaiah said an Officer on Special Duty in Raj Bhavan, Prabhu Shankar, telephoned Chief Minister’s Additional Chief Secretary L K Atiq that a show cause notice is ready. “As it was very late in the night, the notice was handed over at 2 pm next day and the entire matter was hastily conducted without careful legal consideration,” he said.
The Chief Minister asked why the Raj Bhavan and Governor had not acted on complaints against ministers in the previous BJP government - Shashikala Jolle, Murugesh Nirani and G Janardhana Reddy, which have been pending since several years.
The governor has to act on the advice of the State Council of Ministers, which has not been given. The Chief Secretary has given the detailed reply on July 26 at 6.30 pm to Raj Bhavan, which has not been seen. The State Government has already constituted a judicial commission by a retired high court judge on July 14 and the commission will submit its report if there are any irregularities. The governor has issued the show cause notice without considering anything, he said.
Siddaramaiah why BJP opposition leader R Ashok speak about his being afraid as he has done nothing wrong and pointed out that he himself must be afraid.
Rain Havoc
The Chief Minister said Kodagu and other districts have faced widespread devastation due to heavy rains and Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has said the government will take steps to provide relief and help in rebuilding damaged houses.
He said after his inspection of Kodagu district rain havoc today, he will be visiting Nanjangudu on Saturday. The government is taking necessary steps, he added.