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Journalism of Courage
Facing attacks for recommending imposition of Presidents rule in Karnataka,Governor H R Bhardwaj today defended his action saying it stemmed from breakdown of constitutional mechanism and rejected ruling BJPs charge that he recommended dismissal of Yeddyurappa government despite its majority.
With questions raised over his action and BJP bringing him in the line of fire demanding his recall,Bhardwaj rejected as baseless the impression that he recommended Presidents rule on the ground the government had lost majority in the wake of the Supreme Court quashing disqualification of 16 MLAs.
Eleven BJP rebel MLAs and five independents,who withdrew support to Yeddyurappa government,were disqualified by Speaker K G Bopaiah on October 10 last ahead of the trust vote faced by the Chief Minister.
First of all,an impression is being created that despite the government enjoying,the support of the majority of the members of the Assembly,the Governor submitted the report for invoking the provisions of Article 356 (1) of the Constitution on the ground that the government lost the majority. This is completely baseless, a Raj Bhavan communique said.
The intervention of the Article 356 (1) of the Constitution was called for whenever there was a breakdown of constitutional mechanism,he said defending his May 15 special report to the Centre recommending dismissal of the BJP government.
He said the Speaker,in collusion with the Chief Minister,had distorted the character and composition of the Assembly for extraneous reasons on October 10 by disqualifying 16 members hours before the crucial floor test the next day.
Stating that misgivings had been created in the minds of the public about the nature and the rationale of his special report,the communique said the Governor was clarifying the matter to take the people into confidence.
Bhardwaj also noted that the Supreme court had held in its recent judgement that unless it was to ensure that the trust vote did not go against the Chief Minister,there was no conceivable reason for the Speaker to have taken up the disqualification application in such a great hurry.
The communique said Bhardwaj recommended Presidents Rule after examining the apex court judgment and its implications and the various other developments in the recent months.
Hitting out at BJP,which is demanding his recall,for taking to the streets,Bhardwaj said whenever such a situation arises,it was the Governors Constitutional responsibility to submit a report on all such matters.
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