Governor HR Bhardwaj not satisfied with BS Yeddyurappa's reply

Dealing yet another blow to BJP government in Karnataka, governor HR Bhardwaj today said he was not satisfied with chief minister BS Yedyurappa's reply to his two letters about corruption charges against him and his ministers.

"I am not satisifed by the reply given by the Chief Minister on the questions I raised over allegations of corruption, illegal mining and land scams", Bhardwaj said, a day after Yeddyurappa despatched his missive to the governor in response to the two letters he wrote on December 15.

Dismissing the contents of Yedyurappa's reply as only a "defence" and not indicative of "action", Bharadwaj, who seemed to be have been irked by its tone and tenor, said "No, I am not satisfied. Let me tell you".

Speaking to reporters here, he hit back at BJP leaders who have been critical of his actions.

Bhardwaj said "I had posed two fundamental questions which are still on my mind and are causing me lot of mental tension. Instead of being obliged to me for pointing out what it needs to be done for the welfare of the people, they are criticising me".

"The first question was when I found ministers in this government are indulging in illegal mining and making crores and crores of rupees by depriving the people of the state of their dues and from the government exchequer. The matter is serious. Any individual citizen can be immediately dealt with by the law enforcement agency but nothing moves against powerful people. This is what is being demonstrated by the country", Bhardwaj said.

"The second thing is about the ministers indulging in corruption. I do not have any information, it is what I have I read in the newspapers. I have received representation form the NGOs and the media. Can I ignore ministers making crores and crores of rupees?...it is for the government to find out the wrong doings", he said.

"Let him deny it, let him say anything, law will take its own course", Bhardwaj said in a veiled warning that he would contemplate further action on these issues.

Speaking out his mind, he said, "I only write to my Chief Minister for whom I have regard as a person. When I write, I receive no reply. I send reminders. Many people say governor is 'pro-active, he is a Congress agent' and lots of things, but let me tell you nothing is going to deter me from coming to the conclusion that I am entitled to and seeking information. I have every right to seek information under the constitution".

Obviously unhappy with reply, Bhardwaj said  "it is only a two-line cryptic reply instead of telling what action has been inititated".

He said Yeddyurappa had only offered defence taking a stand that the allegations against him are "baseless" and there was no illegal mining in the state.

To a question on BJP state unit president K S Eshwarappa's  tirade against him and his challenge to Bhardwaj to contest the upcoming ZP and TP polls, Bhardwaj retorted "we are talking on matter of principle not on individual".

On whether he would write a more stern letter as he was not satisfied with the reply, Bhardwaj said "I am studying the situation".

"The state government expects the governor to be a ceremonial body with eyes and ears closed. This is not acceptable", Bhardwaj asserted.

After being reminded by Bhardwaj, Yedyurappa had replied to his letters in which the Governor had raised corruption charges against the chief minister and illegal mining, apparently targeting ministers and mining magnates K Janardhana Reddy, K Karunakara Reddy and their close associate B Sreeramulu.