The Centre is believed to have written to the Karnataka government on Tuesday raising issues of corruption, illegal mining and protection of minorities, based on observations made by Karnataka governor H.R. Bhardwaj.
The letter, reportedly dispatched from the home ministry late Tuesday evening, has highlighted issues raised by
governor in his report sent to the Centre recommending President’s Rule. While rejecting the recommendation for President’s Rule in the state, the government decided to write to the state government bringing to its notice the string of issues raised by the governor.
In a letter to CM B.S. Yeddyurappa, home minister P. Chidambaram is believed to have referred to the issue raised in the governor’s report, government sources said. These include instances of illegal mining, instances of alleged corruption, resignation of ministers following allegation of corruption, instances of illegal mining and complaint lodged by Karnataka Lokayukta , which the Centre has termed as a matter of grave concern. “The letter contains advice to the state to take remedial measures. It also says no unconstitutional steps should be taken even as it has advised the state government to take adequate steps to maintain law and order. It has also asked the state government to stop alleged discrimination and oppression of minorities in the state,” the official said. This would perhaps be one of the few rare instances where the Union home minister himself has sent an advisory to a chief minister. Normally advisories are sent by the Union home secretary to the state chief secretary or by a lower level officer of the home ministry to an officer of equivalent rank of the state government.
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Won’t utter a word against gov, says CM
AGE CORRESPONDENT
Bengaluru
May 24: Saying nothing, as the saying goes, sometimes says the most. Chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa seems to have finally realised the power of silence, going by his announcement on Tuesday that he would no longer speak against governor H.R. Bhardwaj with whom his relations have been anything but cordial in recent months.