By IANS,
New Delhi: The Congress Saturday defended Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj’s decision to grant sanction for prosecution of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on allegations of nepotism, saying he has discretion to decide such matters.
“The governor is a constitutional authority. Under the Constitution, he has discretion to decide such matters. He has exercised that discretion over the last month. If anyone is aggrieved, they have the option to take legal remedies,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said here.
He said there was absolutely no need for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to indulge in a political blame game.
“The power which the constitution entrusts to the governor, has been exercised and the remedy, if any, is court redressal and not political allegation against the Congress or deliberate breakdown in law and order, by the BJP, for the BJP in a BJP-ruled state,” Singhvi said.
The governor gave permission Friday night to launch criminal proceedings against Yeddyurappa, as sought by two Bangalore-based advocates, Sirajin Basha and K.N. Balaraj, over revelations that the chief minister had favoured his close kin with prime land in and around Bangalore. The chief minister later made his relatives surrender the land after a row broke out in November.
The BJP has strongly condemned the governor’s decision, contending that it was “motivated by political and collateral consideration”.