Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today slammed the Centre for its move to despatch an advisory to the State government, saying it was aimed at ‘pacifying’ Congress leaders who tried to push for President’s rule in the state through “blackmail tactics”.
“If its’ true the Union government is writing a letter (advisory) to the state to pacify Central Congress leaders who exerted pressure to impose President’s rule by adopting ‘blackmail tactics’, then people of the country will not forgive (it),” he told reporters in Hubli.
“At a time when Congress (in Karnataka) is struggling to keep its own existence, how far is it correct to send a letter and embarrass an elected Government which enjoys a majority?” he asked. “Why a special interest in Karnataka?” Yeddyurappa said he would personally meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram and would like to know past instances when the Centre had sent such advisories to states under different circumstances.
Sending advisories is rare and there is no such practice, barring in case of law and order problems, he said, adding that Karnataka is probably number one in maintaining law and order. Yeddyurappa said he has not (yet) received the advisory and the issue would be also discussed in the coming BJP national executive meet, which would be attended by Chief Ministers of party-ruled states.
The Centre last Sunday rejected Governor H R Bhardwaj’s recommendation on imposition of President’s rule. The Governor had cited breakdown of constitutional mechanism in the state.
Home Minister P Chidambaram said later an advisory would be despatched to Karnataka that would draw the state government’s attention to a number of issues reported by the Governor, including “repeated” instances of corruption, resignations of ministers following allegations of corruption, illegal mining and reports of discrimination against and oppression of minorities.