Bandh in Karnataka today after Governor sanctions Yeddyurappa's prosecution

Bangalore: Karnataka's ruling BJP has called for a statewide bandh today to protest against Governor HR Bhardwaj's sanction for prosecution of Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa.

The party has ruled out Yeddyurappa's resignation in the wake of the Governor's action. An emergency meeting of the party declared it would fight "legally and politically" against the Governor's sanction which it described as "unconstitutional and politically-motivated".

Meanwhile, schools and colleges remained closed in Bangalore and several other districts today in the wake of the bandh call. There have also been incidents of arson in some parts of the state.

Governor Bhardwaj sanctioned the prosecution of Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa following several allegations of his involvement in land scams.

A Raj Bhavan communique said the sanction was accorded under Section 19 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. However, the communique did not mention about the petition filed by Lawyers Forum, which had also sought permission to prosecute Home Minister R Ashoka, alleging involvement in land denotification scam.

Reacting to the prosecution sanction, Yeddyurappa said the Governor is behaving as an agent of Congress and the JDS. "This is nothing but a broad day light murder of democracy and justice," he said.

The Chief Minister also wrote to the Governor protesting against the fact that he hasn't even been given a copy of the Governor's order. Not just that, Yeddyurappa says he doesn't even have a copy of the complaint on which the Governor's decision is based.

Earlier this week, the Cabinet asked the Governor not to sanction the prosecution of the Chief Minister requested by a group of lawyers, who want to formally take up allegations of corruption against Mr Yeddyurappa. The Governor said the request by the cabinet was 'like a thief' requesting the police to not take action against him.

Following the prosecution sanction, the BJP has said the Governor is acting like the prosecutor himself.

"The BJP strongly condemns as constitutionally improper and politically motivated the action of Governor of Karnataka in granting sanction for prosecution against the Chief Minister of Karnataka and his cabinet colleagues," Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said.

However, Karnataka Lokayukta (anti-corruption watchdog) Santosh Hegde says Governor H R Bhardwaj was within his rights to grant sanction to prosecute Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on corruption charges.

"Legally speaking, the Governor has the power to grant or refuse sanction despite the cabinet's resolution. He is empowered to do so", he said.

"Though the Governor has to go by the advice of the cabinet, there are exceptions where he can act independently and should act independently", he said, citing earlier rulings.


Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/karnataka-bandh-today-after-governor-sanctions-yeddyurappas-prosecution-80883?cp