Date:05/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/05/stories/2007040512300400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Bellary issue will be taken up at coordination panel meet'

Special Correspondent

Sriramulu issue a closed chapter: Sadananda Gowda

BANGALORE: State BJP president D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Wednesday said the party would take up the issue of the law and order situation in Bellary district for discussion at the next coordination committee meeting of the ruling Janata Dal (S)-BJP combine.

Addressing a press conference in Bangalore, Mr. Gowda termed the resignation episode of B. Sriramulu as a "closed chapter." Mr. Gowda said the Minister had become emotional and hence resorted to dharna in response to the demand by people that the law and order situation should improve.

Replying to a query, the BJP leader maintained that the incident of the Minister himself staging a protest against the Government had not embarrassed the party. He said the next meeting of the committee would be held before the commencement of the party's Vikasa Yatra from April 9.

Meanwhile, BJP president Rajnath Singh will flag off the party's Vikasa Yatra in Davangere on April 9 while party leader L.K. Advani would participate in the valedictory of the yatra in Udupi on April 24, Mr. Gowda said.

`Revolutionary budget'

Hassan Staff Correspondent reports:

Mr. Gowda claimed that for the first time in the history of Karnataka, Mr. Yediyurappa had presented a revolutionary budget, and party workers would be trained to implement the programmes.

Mr. Gowda was here to install the new district president Navile Appanna and his team.

"For us, it is M.P. Prakash and H.D. Kumaraswamy who matter and not H.D. Deve Gowda."

On the repeated statements by Mr. Deve Gowda that BJP had to adhere to the CMP and then only power would be transferred to it, Mr. Gowda said the BJP would talk to only Mr. Prakash (State JD-S chief) and the Chief Minister.