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Journalism of Courage
In the face of opposition from its coalition partner JD(S), the BJP on Sunday called off its indefinite dharna even as the former agreed to hand over a letter pledging “unconditional” support to the BJP for forming a Government in the state. The saffron party, however, refused to give up its agitational path and decided to embark upon a “save democracy” yatra from the neighbouring Kolar district on Monday.
An embattled BJP, which came under sharp attack from the JD(S) that stayed away consciously from the dharna, terminated the stir a day before the scheduled end. Sources in the BJP said the party was prompted to end dharna in the backdrop of Governor Rameshwar Thakur expressing displeasure as BJP’s action choked traffic on the busy Mahatma Gandhi road junction for the past two days.
When a delegation of the BJP called on Thakur on Sunday, he suggested to the party not to cause inconvenience to public, sources said.
However, the BJP delegation led by its National General Secretary Ananth Kumar and state unit president D V Sadananda Gowda pleaded the Governor to send his report to the Centre as early as possible to pave way for revocation of President’s rule and formation of a Government in Karnataka. The Governor has assured that he would submit his report soon and act as per constitutional provisions, Ananth Kumar said.
Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said, “We have responded favourably to the BJP’s request to tender a letter declaring JD(S)’s unconditional support to the BJP-led Government.”
When a BJP delegation called on the Governor on Sunday afternoon, he told them that in his report to be sent to President Pratibha Patil he would mention that the support was “conditional” following which they approached the JD(S).
State BJP president D V Sadananda Gowda met Kumaraswamy and placed the request for the letter and Kumaraswamy consented.
Earlier in the day, Kumaraswamy declared that the JD(S) had decided not to impose any condition on the BJP to form the Government and extend unconditional support after the 12-point MoU mooted by his father H D Deve Gowda came in for criticism.
