In a statement that may cause further embarrassment to BJP, its national vice-president Shanta Kumar today said he had informed the party high command about the happenings in Karnataka when he was party in-charge for the state, but his complaints were not taken seriously.
In a hard-hitting comment, he also said that BJP was fast becoming a “party of sons, daughters and relatives”. “I knew everything what Karnataka Lok ayukta Santosh Hegde has now said... I had informed high command about it, but no action was taken,” Kumar said.
“I had asked the high command to relieve me from Karnataka's charge, if action was not to be taken against Yeddyurappa. Lok ayukta's report is so much damning that the party must take action against the Chief Minister,” he said.
He said BJP came into existence as a party with difference, and continued to be a much better party compared to the rest. “But of late the culture of parivar-tantra (family politics), replacing Lok tantra (democracy), has arisen even in the BJP....It is becoming the party of sons, daughters and relatives,” the national vice-president said.
Kumar reminded that at a recent meeting of BJP Chief Ministers, it was resolved that the party will oppose corruption. Developments in Karnataka — where the BJP Chief Minister is facing allegations regarding corruption in the mining sector — were tarnishing the party's image, he added. "Whether in government or not, we are for the nation. If we compromise with the corrupt to remain in power, we have no right to call ourselves a party with difference," he said. Recently Kumar had written a letter to the BJP president, demanding Yeddyurappa's removal.
