Bengaluru, Jan. 21: The mud-slinging between the Karnataka Governor, Mr H.R. Bhardwaj, and the Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, came to a head on Friday with the Governor granting approval for the prosecution of the BJP leader for his alleged involvement in illegal land deals, setting off a political storm with violence breaking out in K.R. Puram and Banashankari where over half a dozen buses were pelted with stones and damaged.
The police threw a security ring around Raj Bhavan, the Chief Minister’s residence and vital establishments as they braced for trouble on Saturday, when the BJP intends to take out protests and march to Raj Bhavan.
The Governor’s unprecedented order, backed applications submitted by two advocates of Karnataka High Court — Mr Sirajin Basha and Mr K.N. Balaraj.
Mr Yeddyurappa, told reporters on Friday night as soon as the news broke: “The Governor has acted in an arbitrary and partisan manner, giving a go-by to principles of natural justice. This is nothing but broad day-light murder of democracy and justice. I have full faith in the judicial system of this country and I will come out clean. What the opposition parties could not achieve directly through the mandate of the people has been achieved by them through the office of the Governor and Raj Bhavan. I leave it to the people to decide what is right and wrong. The people of Karnataka will see through the evil designs of those who are upset with the progress and development achieved by me in the last two and half years.”