New Delhi, January 02: To deflect heat generated by allegations against the Bellary Reddys, whom governor H R Bhardwaj wants dropped from the ministry, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has indicated his government has shelved its plan to ‘chargesheet’ the governor.
At its last meeting, the cabinet had decided to frame charges against Bhardwaj for ‘exceeding his constitutional duties’ and submit them to the central leadership. The national leadership in New Delhi was to meet President Pratibha Patil to demand the governor’s recall. The ministers from Bellary — G Janardhana Reddy, G Karunakara Reddy and B Sriramulu — have evaded income tax, according to an internal-circulation document brought out by the department.
But a day after the CM met governor, an event preceded by BJP leader Arun Jaitley calling on the latter, things changed. At both meetings, the governor questioned the government’s wisdom in letting the Reddys and Sriramulu continue as ministers. The governor has written to the CM on the alleged tax evasion.
Speaking with reporters on Saturday, Yeddyurappa declined to discuss Bhardwaj. “I do not want to talk about the governor, and want to make a new beginning in 2011,” he said. But the CM gave a clean chit to the Reddy brothers on allegations of tax evasion. “The charges are baseless,” he said.
Sources in the CM’s secretariat said there are clear indications the government has dropped its idea of going hammer and tongs against Bhardwaj. “I had fruitful discussions with governor on Friday. As a constitutional head of the state, he gave some advice. In future, I will meet him at regular intervals. It’s not only the governor; my relationship with Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde is also good,” Yeddyurappa said.
Clearly, a ceasefire seems to be in the offing. Bhardwaj will address a joint session of the legislature on January 6. The friction between him and Yeddyurappa had escalated with the governor seeking information on the Reddys’ business deals and the CM’s reply not satisfying him.
–Agenices