BJP threatens to sue Gowda for abuses

H D Deve Gowda today faced the ire of the BJP for calling Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa a “bloody bastard” with the party going on the offensive threatening to file a suit against the former prime minister for hurling profanity.

BJP central leadership and its Karnataka unit demanded an unconditional apology from Gowda but the JD(S) supremo said in New Delhi he has already withdrawn the provocative words yesterday itself and expressed regret after admitting he used them to attack the chief minister. In Bangalore, Gowda’s son H D Kumaraswamy, a former chief minister, asked the BJP not to “precipitate” the matter following yesterday’s outbursts and warned of counter steps if their protests do not stop by tomorrow.

Kumaraswamy also said Gowda was under some kind of “tension” that forced him to use some harsh words for which “my father has already expressed regrets for it and the party too did so.” Effigies of Gowda were burnt in several towns in the state by BJP workers who also held a dharna in Bangalore at the busy Basaweshwara circle near Vidhana Soudha, chanting anti-Gowda slogans.

BJP leader Dhananjay Kumar said, “We object to this kind of conduct by Deve Gowda and demand he express unconditional apology to the people or else he will have to face legal action.”

BJP central leaders said Gowda’s attack was shameful, compromised on decency in politics and brought shame to democracy.

Yeddyurappa ruled out any legal action against Gowda leaving it to the state unit to decide on the next course of action. The chief minister, however, asked Gowda to stop “provoking” him telling the JD(S) chief he was also capable of making “similar caustic remarks”.