Now, Karnataka governor takes a dig at Advani yatra
October 24th, 2011 - 7:42 pm ICT by IANS
Bangalore, Oct 24 (IANS) In a rare instance of a non-partisan constitutional authority taking potshots at a political leader, Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj Monday ribbed senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani over his Jan Chetna Yatra.
“It is better to go on a padayatra (foot march), like Gandhiji did,” he said.
Bhardwaj, a veteran Congressman and former central law minister, said on the margins of a function when asked to comment on the BJP veteran’s anti-corruption roadshow: “I don’t like rath (chariot) yatras. It is on a bus. It is better to go on a padayatra,” he said.
Bhardwaj, who has been in a running battle with the BJP government in Karnataka, said at the same time, “I do not want make any comment as he is a senior leader of a party.”
Ever since Advani announced his plans for a nation-wide anti-corruption yatra, many political parties, particularly the Congress, have been having a field day poking fun at it.
Monday was no different as Karnataka Congress chief G. Parameshwara added his bit to ridicule the yatra in view of the scandals rocking the BJP government in the state.
“Is Advaniji coming to Bangalore to meet his party leaders in the Parappana Agrahara jail,” Parameshwara asked, referring to the fact that BJP’s first chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and two former ministers are in judicial custody on corruption cases.
Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna, credited with making Bangalore India’s IT hub when he was the Karnataka chief minister from 1999 to 2004, said Sunday, “He should know for what purpose he has undertaken (the yatra) at a time when what is happening in Karnataka is known all over.”
As soon as Advani announced the yatra plan, the Congress had taunted him to make Yeddyurappa its charioteer.
Advani is to address a public meeting in Bangalore Oct 30 and in several places in the BJP stronghold of Karnataka’s coastal districts Oct 31.
- Yeddyurappa jailed till Oct 22 in corruption cases - Oct 16, 2011
- Yeddyurappa to stay in jail when Advani arrives - Oct 28, 2011
- Ahead of Advani's arrival, Karnataka BJP problems mount - Oct 28, 2011
- Bad day for party but Advani Yatra's Karnataka leg on: BJP - Oct 15, 2011
- Embarrassed BJP attacks Congress over Yeddyurappa - Oct 16, 2011
- Double whammy for Karnataka BJP, from Advani and RSS (Lead) - Oct 22, 2011
- Yeddyurappa gets bail in one case - Nov 03, 2011
- Yeddyurappa case: Congress advises Advani to end yatra - Oct 15, 2011
- Yeddyurappa stays in jail, bail hearing Nov 8 - Nov 04, 2011
- No regrets about dropping Yeddyuprappa: Advani - Nov 02, 2011
- My Bangalore trip is on: Advani - Oct 23, 2011
- Advani's yatra: Crusade or pilgrimage? - Oct 30, 2011
- Congress to hit streets if BJP government not dismissed - May 16, 2011
- BJP needs an internal Lokpal: Congress - Jan 06, 2012
- Advani braves Karnataka scandals, thanks to judiciary - Oct 29, 2011
Tags: advani yatra, bangalore india, bharatiya janata party, bhardwaj, bjp government, bjp leader, charioteer, chetna, coastal districts, congress chief, constitutional authority, corruption cases, gandhiji, judicial custody, karnataka chief minister, l k advani, law minister, political leader, potshots, rare instance