K'taka guv's action politically motivated: BJP

Strongly condemning Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj's sanction to prosecute Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday said it was constitutionally improper and politically motivated.

Attacking the controversial decision, BJP said he was "proactive" to protect the "poor plight of Congress" in the state and had turned Raj Bhawan into an area of activity for that party.

"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.

He insisted that a Governor is a "political appointee" with a political background. "Even during his tenure as governor, he (Bhardwaj) has been proudly proclaiming his political affiliation. He carries his political affiliation on his sleeve. The continuous course of his conduct, his utterances, his vocabulary, his phrases, his arguments all show a distinct political character to his conduct and an absolute lack of restraint," Jaitley said.

The BJP maintained that when the Lokayukta was investigating all the charges against the Chief Minister and the state government had already instituted a Court of Inquiry on the matter land allotments from 1994 onwards, the Governor should have waited for the outcome before sanctioning prosecution.

"Some private individuals and political opponents belonging to the Congress and JD(S) had filed complaints before the Lokayukta of Karnataka.... The investigation is still pending. Without waiting for any of these investigations to be completed and submission of report- adverse or otherwise- the Governor suddenly becomes proactive," Jaitley said.