Bhardwaj: Will quit only if Prez tells me
The bonhomie with chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa apart, governor H.R. Bhardwaj made it clear on Wednesday that he had no intention of stepping down because of the frequent tussles with the BJP government in the state.
Replying to questions after the Karnataka Public Service Commission’s diamond jubilee function here, Mr Bhardwaj said that he was appointed by the President and would quit only if the President asked him to do so.
Earlier, speaking at the function, Mr Bhardwaj said, “I have performed my constitutional duty by sending the report to the Union government. It is left to them to accept or reject my report.” He added that he would not feel sad if the Centre rejected his report, which has recommended President’s Rule in Karnataka.
“I think one must understand the fact that I have sent the report based on the Supreme Court’s judgment reversing the Speaker’s disqualification of 16 MLAs. In a way, the top court has upheld my argument. On October 6 last year, all 16, including 11 BJP legislators, gave me a letter stating they do not have confidence in the leadership of Mr Yeddyurappa. After this, I wrote a letter to Speaker K.G. Bopaiah requesting him to maintain the composition of the House, but he decided to ignore it. Now, that the Supreme Court has quashed his order, this has become a minority government which is why I sent the report. It’s up to the Union government to decide what it wants to do,” he said caustically.
In response to a question on whether Mr Bopaiah should resign, Mr Bhardwaj said sarcastically, “I would not like to talk about people in high positions. But everybody is bound by the judiciary’s order.”
Asked about sharing the podium with the chief minister at the function, the governor asked, “Do you think I should not meet the chief minister? Then, people may ask what kind of governor I am.”
Asked why he lauded the chief minister at the function, Mr Bhardwaj said, “I keep on saying he is a hard worker. But these are his problems, not mine.”
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