The Karnataka government seems to be on the brink of collapse and in a last ditch effort, legislators are being packed off to posh hotels and resorts. The issue came up in Parliament too when opposition MPs blamed the BJP for the crisis. Amidst such allegations, Union Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh told the Parliament that his party had nothing to do with the developments and that AICC chief Rahul Gandhi set the trend for resignations in the Congress.
“It is Rahul Gandhi who started the resignation spree in Congress, now one leader after another is quitting. What does the BJP have to do with this? Our party does not have a tradition of putting pressure or offering inducements to any other party's legislator. Because we are committed to the sanctity of parliamentary democracy,” Rajnath Singh told other MPs.
Though, Rajnath Singh said this in Delhi, back in Bengaluru the scene was completely different. An hour after independent MLA H Nagesh withdrew support to the government and submitted a letter to Governor Vajubhai Vala, he was seen loading his luggage into a car along with BJP state President BS Yeddyurappa’s personal assistant and relative NR Santosh. Nagesh and Santosh were also seen at the HAL airport in Bengaluru, where Nagesh boarded the flight to Mumbai.
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BS Yeddyurappa's PA Santosh (in blue shirt) at HAL airport with independent MLA H Nagesh
On Saturday, Santosh was also seen in the company of 11 rebel MLAs outside the Oakwood Hotel in Bengaluru’s UB City just a few minutes before the legislators tendered their resignations to the Speaker’s office.
AH Vishwanath (left) and NR Santosh (right) at Oakwood hotel right before the 12 MLAs resigned
Speaking to the media, Bengaluru Rural MP DK Suresh alleged that the BJP was trying to topple the coalition government by offering bribes to the legislators. DK Suresh also alleged that the MLAs were taken to Mumbai since it is a BJP-ruled state.
"The MLAs have been lodged in a hotel in Mumbai. They have booked an entire floor of rooms for them. The Mumbai police has provided protection to these MLAs. Clearly the BJP government there is helping the MLAs. If the BJP was not involved, why take the MLAs to a BJP-ruled state? The BJP is luring the MLAs with promises of money and power," DK Suresh added.
.@BJP4India is a disgrace to our country & they have no respect for Parliamentary democracy. RSS did not respect freedom movement & BJP is not respecting our constitution. They are pseudo nationalists with ulterior motive of destabilizing India's unity.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 8, 2019
@BJP4Karnataka had not got any mandate from the people even if percentage of votes are considered. Independents & BSP MLAs had supported our coalition govt. We have numbers to prove majority but @BJP4Karnataka is continuously trying to topple our govt.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 8, 2019
@BJP4India is misusing central govt & its agencies to threaten our MLAs. It is not just by @BJP4Karnataka leaders but also by dictators @AmitShah & @narendramodi. They are nothing but the traitors of this vibrant country.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 8, 2019
@BJP4India had been trying to destabilize since last one year & this is their sixth attempt. They will surely fail again & will have to face the wrath of the public.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 8, 2019
They are unable to digest the fact that our coalition govt is trying to ensure social justice & regional balance.
Our ministers have voluntarily resigned to help save the government. We will try to accommodate those MLAs who have resigned & interested to be the ministers.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 8, 2019
We will reshuffle the cabinet keeping regional aspirations & social obligations in mind.
I, on behalf of @INCIndia party, request all those who have resigned to reconsider their decision & strengthen our government.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 8, 2019