Congress asks for dismissal of Karnataka govt

New Delhi/ Bengaluru: The Congress on Wednesday called for the dismissal of the Yediyurappa government in Karnataka, saying the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the decision disqualifying 17 Congress and JD(S) MLAs but allowing them to contest the bypolls had exposed the BJP’s ‘Operation Kamal’ in the state.

The court on Wednesday struck down the portion of the order of then speaker K R Ramesh Kumar by which the legislators were disqualified till the end of the 15th Karnataka Assembly and said they can become ministers or hold public office if elected in the December 5 bypolls.

“The Supreme Court’s decision has exposed the BJP’s ‘Operation Kamal’ in Karnataka… The Yediyurappa government is an ‘illegitimate’ government in terms of law and constitution and should be dismissed immediately,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Twitter.

He also asked for an inquiry into the role of the BJP leadership.

“Public opinion and democratic values demand that not should only the ‘illegitimate’ Yediyurappa government be sacked, but the BJP’s conspiracy to bring down an elected government on the basis of money power of the legislators investigated. The ‘Yediyurappa Tapes’ need to be investigated.Where did all this black money come from? What was the role of BJP leadership?” he asked.

His colleague Abhishek Manu Singhvi echoed him and said the Yediyurappa government has no moral right to continue in office any more.

“There is clearly an attempt by the BJP to destroy democratic values through shameless display of money power… The Supreme Court decision vindicates the stand of the Speaker almost 95 per cent. It shows that ‘Operation Kamal’ is happening everyday and everywhere in the country,” Singhvi told reporters.

“It shows that a large number of Congress-JDS MLAs were lured by the BJP through the use of money power,” he said.

Demanding the resignation of the Karnataka chief minister, he said the BJP’s “character” was now exposed.