Permit session or face protest: BJP

The ruling BJP government in Karnataka today threatened to launch a statewide agitation from May 20 if the governor failed to approve an assembly session of the state legislature from June 2, 2011.

Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa who left for the Vaishnodevi temple this morning, told reporters, “By this evening, news regarding the approval for holding the assembly session from the Raj Bhavan should reach me. Otherwise, we will go on a state-wide tour in an open jeep to build public opinion from tomorrow.”

Yesterday, governor H R Bhardwaj told the chief minister that he was waiting for the Centre to reply to his report. He asked the chief minister to wait for a day before he gave approval. His deadline ended this evening.

Law minister S Suresh Kumar told reporters here today that a massive protest rally under the leadership of chief minister would be staged in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue here tomorrow if the Governor did not give his approval by evening for holding the session.

Key office bearers and ministers would decide on the future agitational course after the rally which would be attended by legislators, partymen and members of the public, Kumar said.

“The governor is not behaving according to constitutional norms. Section 163 of the Constitution empowers the cabinet to convene the assembly session. But the governor is not giving permission. We will protest this move of the governor and build public opinion,” Kumar said.