Ruling BJP in Karnataka on Saturday mounted a frontal attack on governor H.R. Bhardwaj with whom it has uneasy relations, alleging he had openly flaunted his Congress credentials and asked him to function within the framework of the Constitution.
"Bhardwaj himself says he is proud to be a Congress man... A chair should be provided to the governor in the office of the Pradesh Congress office," state BJP President K.S. Eshwarappa said at a party rally here attended by party senior leader L.K. Advani, chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and state leaders.
Attacking the governor for declining consent to the state's bill on banning cow slaughter and for referring it to the President for assent, he said Mr Bhardwaj should "work within the framework of the Constitution and in accordance with the verdicts pronounced by the Supreme Court".
He said BJP would "not rest" till the law on cow slaughter ban was implemented in the state. Ever since occupying the gubernatorial post, Mr Bhardwaj, a former Union law minister, has been openly critical of the BJP government on various issues, including illegal mining and law and order, inviting the wrath of the party.
Eswarappa also criticised on JD(S) leader H.D. Deve Gowda for opposing the cow slaughter ban bill. Attacking opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah, who had led the party's recent “Bellary Chalo padayatra” against illegal mining, Eshwarappa questioned his concern for the backward classes.
Taking on Siddaramiah in his home turf of Mysore, he sought to know about the efforts made by him for their welfare when he was the state finance minister for seven successive years.
He alleged Congress leaders had indulged in illegal mining for the last six decades. The ongoing Lokayukta probe into illegal mining would bring out the truth, he said.