Why not ask Yeddyurappa to quit, Congress to BJP

NEW DELHI - Countering the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over corruption, the Congress Thursday accused the BJP of “shamelessly” defending Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa despite his name cropping up in a land scam.

Talking to reporters, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari demanded the ouster of Yeddyurappa, saying while leaders from the Congress and its allies have resigned in the wake of corruption cases, the BJP has not practised what it preaches.

“There was no court case against Kalmadi, Ashok Chavan or A. Raja, and previously Shashi Tharoor, but they resigned on the basis of the ‘perception’, while the BJP is shamelessly defending Yeddyurappa despite his involvement in the land scam,” Tewari said.

The Congress has been demanding that Yeddyurappa, who heads a BJP government, step down in the wake of allegations that he favoured his two sons in bagging prime land in Bangalore.

“They are now offering to return the land. But nothing will change by surrendering the land, the ‘chief ministership’ should be surrendered,” Tewari said.

The Congress has also blamed the chief minister for not having the will to act against corruption, and not taking any action against the Reddy brothers of Karnataka, who are allegedly involved in a multi-crore mining scam in the state.

Tewari also rejected the opposition’s demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the 2G spectrum allocation and other scandals.

“What value addition will a JPC do,” he asked.

Asked for his comment on the functioning of parliament, which is witnessing disruptions by the opposition over the scandals, the spokesperson said making the house function was as much the responsibility of the opposition parties and until all parties cooperated parliament can not work.

“All parties must cooperate and show the nation that they are not sitting here in Delhi and taking salary but also working,” he said.