Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 27: Legal cell of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has complained to the state director general of police (DGP) against state BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa, accusing the latter of giving call for a state bandh in spite of clear stand of the apex court that there is no provision to organize state bandh.

Secretary of the legal cell, Soorya Mukundaraj, gave this complaint on Saturday. He said that in violation of the orders of the Supreme Court against such bandhs, Yeddyurappa had given a call for state-wide bandh on Monday May 28. He pointed out that in James Martin vs State of Kerala case, the Supreme Court had clearly stated that no one is permitted to give call for bandhs. He said that when Kannada activist, Vatal Nagaraj, had given call for such bandh in the recent past, the court had said that giving such a call is illegal. Soorya Mukundraj accordingly has asked the DGP to take action against Yeddyurappa who has been issuing statements on the issue.

In the meanwhile, Yeddyurappa clarified that BJP has not given any call for bandh seeking waiver of loans raised by farmers from cooperative and nationalized banks. In a volte face, he claimed when speaking to media persons at his Dollars Colony residence here on Saturday that farmers had given call for a bandh. He said that BJP will extend support to the bandh call all over the state except the city as election for Rajarajeshwari Nagar assembly constituency is being held on that day. He reiterated that his party has not given call for this bandh.

"Before the assembly election, H D Kumaraswamy had announced that he would waive loans of farmers on the very first day of assuming office. Now he is taking a dual stand by saying that his party had not been voted to power with absolute majority. Why is he shirking from his responsibility?" he questioned.

Yeddyurappa said that agitation against the government in and outside Vidhana Soudha would continue till it announces farm loan waiver. "We will discharge duties as a responsible opposition," he stated. He also exuded confidence of winning both Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Jayanagar assembly elections, adding that the people will support his party against the unholy alliance between the Congress and JD(S).