Karnataka Governor sacrificed constitution for Modi: Congress

The Congress on Thursday accused Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala of "murdering democracy in broad daylight" and "sacrificing" the Constitution and democracy for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The party dared the Bharatiya Janata Party to prove its majority in the Karnataka Assembly by Friday "if the party has courage of conviction".

Talking to reporters here, Congress Communications Department in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala targeted the state Governor for inviting BJP leader B.S. Yeddyurappa to take oath on Thursday morning even as the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular had staked claim to form the government.

"It was not a swearing in of B.S. Yeddyurappaji, but it was an ugly picture of swallowing in ceremony of democratic principles, judicial verdicts and established precedents," Surjewala said.

The Congress leader said when the Governor invited Yeddyurappa, he "committed first encounter of constitution."

"Today when Vajubhai Vala swore in B.S. Yeddyurappa, he committed second encounter of constitution, killing the constitution and murdering democracy in the process."

Terming Yeddyurappa as a "one-day Chief Minister", Surjewala said his position will depend on the outcome of Friday's hearing in the Supreme Court on the petition moved by the Congress and the JD-S.

The two parties, which joined hands after the elections, have staked claim to form the government in Karnataka.

Attacking the Governor, Surjewala said: "He committed a daylight murder of democracy" and gave importance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi "over constitution and democracy".

"Earlier Vajubhai Vala had sacrificed his seat in Gujarat assembly in favour of Modi and on Wednesday and Thursday morning he sacrificed constitution and democracy for Modiji," Surjewala said.

"The Governor has proved he will trample on Constitution, subjugate democratic values, demolish precedents and dicta of the Supreme Court and will install even 'one-day BJP Chief Minister'," he added.

Referring to BJP chief Amit Shah's remarks on the Karnataka verdict, Surjewala said they will be defeated if the floor test is held in a day.

"Amit Shah dares to give us sermons on democracy. We challenge you, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. If you have courage of conviction, if you have belief in the constitution, if you have faith in democracy, we dare you to prove your majority tomorrow (Friday) itself on the floor of Karnataka Assembly... You will be decisively defeated like you have been by the people in this election," Surjewala said.

--IANS

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