Karnataka Governor 'behaving like Congress agent', says BJP

CHENNAI: Stung by Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj sanctioning prosecution of its Chief Minister, BJP today accused him of behaving like a "Congress agent" and demanded his immediate recall.

"The Governor's activities are politically motivated. They are unconstitutional and don't behold the federal structure of India," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters here.

The Governor had on Friday granted sanction to prosecute Yeddyurappa and state Home Minister R Ashoka on corruption charges, triggering off a war of words between BJP and Congress.

Javadekar said the Lokayukta and a commission of enquiry were already looking into the issues but "there is no prima facie case."

"It is unheard of a Governor to act like a Congress agent. People had rejected Congress in the Assembly polls as well as the recent zilla parishad elections," he said.

Congress is already suffering embarrassment on issues of corruption like the Adarsh Housing Society and the CWG, the BJP leader said. "To save further embarrassment, the Governor should be immediately recalled," he said.

BJP MPs from Karnataka would meet the President on January 24 to press for recalling Bhardwaj, he said.

Javadekar ruled out possibilities of the Centre dismissing the first BJP government in South India.

He denied that the today's Karnataka bandh was a government-sponsored one and said it was called for by BJP.

"The spontaneous action and its 100 per cent success shows that people are angry with the Governor," he said.