Gowda slams cabinet resolution to Karnataka governor

Bangalore: JDS leader H D Deve Gowda today slammed the Karnataka cabinet's resolution asking H R Bhardwaj to drop proceedings for prosecution of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on corruption charges, saying it was "an attempt to obstruct the governor from discharging his constitutional duty".

Speaking to reporters here, the former prime minister defended the governor's remarks "ulta chor kotwal ko dante" (thief chiding the police) made yesterday and demanded that Bhardwaj dismiss the government.

"In a brazen and atrocious attempt Yeddyurappa and his cabinet colleagues have closed ranks to try to intimidate, deride and defame a constitutional authority by conveying a cabinet decision of this nature," Gowda said.

"The reaction of the Yeddyurappa cabinet is by itself the biggest evidence of admission of guilt," Gowda said.

Bhardwaj today dismissed as "unwarranted" and rejected the cabinet resolution, asking him to drop proceedings for prosecution of Yeddyurappa and said he was entitled to take an independent decision on the issue.

The cabinet resolution had asked the governor to drop the proceedings to prosecute Yeddyurappa and Home Minister R Ashoka on alleged scams on the basis of a complaint filed by lawyers' forum, saying such a move was nothing short of a "farce and colourable" exercise on his part.