It’s the composition of the committees suggested by Yeddyurappa that commands attention.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, Yeddyurappa has sought to appoint a committee headed by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna to inquire into the matter of alleged phone tapping made by Lokayukta Santosh Hegde.
Yeddyurappa has fired a political salvo by seeking the inclusion of JD(S) leader and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda in the committee. Yeddyurappa has been at loggerheads with Gowda and his sons ever since become chief minister.
By suggesting that Krishna head the committee, Yeddyurappa has thrown an open challenge to Congress leaders who have been intensifying the demand for his resignation on the issue of Lokayukta’s report indicting him in the illegal mining scam and telephone tapping charge.
Speaking to reporters, Yeddyurappa said he would not only resign as Chief Minister, but would retire from political if the allegations were found to be true.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, Yeddyurappa also suggested that besides Krishna, the committee also have Gowda and Lokayukta Hegde as members. Yeddyurappa said he had sought the inclusion of representatives from Opposition parties and Lokayukta himself to ensure a high degree of transparency.
Rejecting allegations of tapping the phones of the Lokayukta, Yeddyurappa in his letter has also denied any role in the leak of the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.
“I would like to categorically state that the government has at no point authorised any tapping of phone of the Lokayukta. Even the idea of tapping the phones of eminent authorities is unimaginable and I am personally pained that the government is being unfairly blamed in the matter,” Yeddyurappa stated in the letter.
Letter to Gadkari
In his letter to Gadkari, Yeddyurappa asked the BJP national president to constitute a committee to inquire into the charges of corruption and favouritism against him.
Here too, Yeddyurappa has tried to score some brownie points by requesting Gadkari to nominate BJP National General Secretary Ananth Kumar, viewed to be Yeddyurappa’s rival within the party, as a member. The two are ranged against each for several years now.
Yeddyurappa suggested that Dharmendra Pradhan, party general secretary in-charge of Karnataka affairs, and senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu, also be made the panel members.
The committee, Yeddyurappa suggested, could also go into the allegations made against him regarding allotment of land and sites and submit a report to the party within two months.
Besides, the committee could go into the allegation made in the Lokayukta report that he and his family had received favours from South West Mining Company, Yeddyurappa stated.
Speaking at a press conference later in the day, Yeddyurappa said he wanted the party to know the truth about the Opposition’s charges against him.