From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Aug 14: After being ticked by BJP National President Amit Shah for the State party unit’s failure to take on the Congress-led Siddaramaiah government, Karnataka BJP President B S Yeddyurappa has announced plans for a week-long State-wide agitation from Wednesday against the Congress government in general and Energy Minister D K Shivakumar in particular on the issue of corruption.

In a statement issued in Bengaluru on Monday, Yeddyurappa said: "BJP takes a serious note that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has not acted against Shivakumar in the aftermath of the IT raids."

"This State Government has always been tolerant about corruption and corrupt people. BJP has always been a party committed for probity in public life and has always believed in providing a corrupt-free administration – whether in the states or at the Centre," the statement said.

Siddaramaiah's government in Karnataka has unfortunately become synonymous with corrupt administration and has earned the epithet of being the “most corrupt government” in the country, Yeddyurappa said.

He said the Siddaramaiah Government has become expert in getting clean chits for those ministers who have been charged for various misdemeanors. In spite of this, the Chief Minister has not relieved any of his ministers who have become tainted with corruption charges.

It may be recalled that Amit Shah had taken the State party unit as well as different morchas for not being vocal in putting the Congress government to task, especially after the four-day long IT raids against Shivakumar in over 60 places and reportedly unearthing details of over Rs 300 crore worth unaccounted assets.

Yeddyurappa said: "BJP is indeed committed for corruption-free governance as is being proved by Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. The state-wide agitation will be in the form of protest dharnas, protest rallies, two-wheeler rallies, torch-light processions (by BJP Yuva Morcha) and silent-protest processions by the Mahila Morcha. These protests will be held at the state, district and taluk levels."

He said memoranda will be submitted to the Governor, the Deputy Commissioner and Tahsildars by the party units.

Amit Shah rejects demands of UP CM Yogi's resignation over children's death

Bengaluru, Aug 14 (IANS): BJP President Amit Shah on Monday rejected the demand of resignation of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the wake of death of over 60 children in the past week due to lack of oxygen and other medical reasons in Gorakhpur hospital.

The BJP chief also said that after investigation ordered by Adityanath gets complete and the report is submitted, action will be taken against the culprits.

"Seeking resignation is Congress's work. In such a big country, many accidents happen. This has not happened for the first time. Such accidents happened during even Congress governments," Shah told reporters.

He was responding to a query that responsibilities can't be with the doctors and government officials only and should be fixed for politicians also for the deaths of children in Gorakhpur.

Responding to another query, Shah said that the BJP does not fix anyone like Congress does without conducting proper enquiry.

"The matter is being probed and Yogiji has ordered a time bound probe. The report will be made public after it is submitted," he said describing the deaths of children as an accident.

"It was a mistake...it might have happened at any stage," he said.

The BJP chief also justified Yogi's directions for preparations for a "grand Krishna Janmashtami celebration" at a time when the state is mourning the death of over 60 infants.

"Everyone is saddened by the deaths of children but Yogiji has not ordered celebration of Janmashtami in reference to the deaths. Janmashtami has its own place and is being celebrated every where in the country," Shah said adding that the Janmashtami is not a government festival.

"If some one celebrates Janmashtami in his house what can the government do," he said.

Shah branded the Karnataka's ruling Congress government as the most corrupt government of the country and also sought the details of the expenses of the grants given by central government from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

"I have never seen such a corrupt government after independence. It is most corrupt government of the country which has no shame left," he said.

He also accused the state government of targeted killings of its workers in the state and alleged that it was doing appeasement politics which will insecure the state.

Shah claimed that BJP will form next government in the state under the leadership of its leader and former Chief Minister B. S. Yeddiyurappa.

The BJP leader also refuted the media reports that the government can go for early Lok Sabha polls in 2018.

"There is no such plan. As far as simultaneous election is concerned, the matter is under consideration and a debate is going on in the country. After a consensus between all political parties and Election Commission, it can be considered," Shah said.