By IANS,
Bangalore/New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday threatened a nation-wide stir if the central government does not reject by Monday evening Karnataka Governor H.R.Bhardwaj’s recommendation to dismiss the B.S. Yeddyurappa ministry.
If the central government “does not act within the coming 24 hours, the BJP will be compelled to launch a nation-wide agitation both against the centre and the governor,” former party president M. Venkaiah Naidu told reporters in Bangalore.
Yeddyurappa, too, appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take a decision on Governor H.R. Bhardwaj’s recommendation before leaving on his foreign trip Monday.
Singh leaves New Delhi Monday on a six-day visit to Ethiopia and Tanzania.
“I will wait only today (Sunday) and tomorrow (Monday). After that our agitation will take on new dimensions. We will involve our ministers and parliament members,” Yeddyurappa told reporters in Mangalore, about 350 kms from Bangalore.
BJP’s new threat over Bhardwaj’s recommendation, made last Sunday, came as state Congress leaders indicated that the central government was assessing whether it can muster a majority in the Rajya Sabha to get parliament’s approval if the Yeddyurappa ministry is dismissed.
Yeddyurappa had on May 20 set a May 25 deadline for the central government to reject the recommendation.
“All aspects, including the chances of Rajya Sabha approval of presidential proclamation (if the Yeddyurappa ministry is dismissed) are being considered,” state Congress president G. Parameshwara told reporters in New Delhi after meeting Finance Minister and senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee.
The United Progressive Alliance government does not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha. Parliament has to approve within six months a presidential proclamation dismissing a state government.
Bhardwaj sought the Yeddyurappa ministry’s dismissal May 15, two days after the Supreme Court restored membership of 16 lawmakers, 11 of BJP and five Independents. They were disqualified ahead of the Oct 11, 2010 trust vote Yeddyurappa took on Bhardwaj’s direction following the rebellion by these lawmakers.
The BJP Saturday launched agitation in several parts of Karnataka demanding rejection of Bhardwaj’s recommendation and for his immediate recall.
Yeddyurappa is leading the protests in five districts and state BJP president K.S. Eshwarappa in six others.