19 January,2011 06:15 AM IST | | B V Shiva Shankar
Though the lawyer duo claims that they were still looking to prosecute the chief minister in the High Court.
Days after the Raj Bhavan showed interest in original files pertaining to the allegations listed out by an advocate duo about the CM's role in the BDA land scam, the issue seems to have lost steam. This is because the duo is apparently backing out, say sources.
Will he? Speculations are rife that Governor H R Bharadwaj was
expected to give a sanction on January 27 to prosecute CM Yeddyurappa.
File pics
Sirajin Basha, and K N Balaraj, members of the law forumu00a0-- Justice Lawyers, had appealed governor H R Bharadwaj to allow them to prosecute Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa over land scams, while submitting some documentary evidence as the basis of their allegation. Their appeal had given rise to a fresh bout of political turbulence in the state with the CM's future once again starting to look bleak.
Going slow
While speculations are rife on the issue, BJP sources said that party leaders had managed to convince Basha and Balaraj, and the lawyer duo seems to have softened their stand.
"Their efforts have only given a weapon to the Congress, who is playing politics. We convinced them, and they seem to have understood us," said a senior BJP leader.
Although the law doesn't allow them to take back the complaint, the lawyers can help the CM by going slow on the prosecution after getting a sanction. However, Basha and Balaraj rubbished reports of BJP leaders contacting them, and said they were still looking to prosecute the chief minister in the High Court.
"I don't want to talk about it, as I know the parties play politics on the issue and anything can happen," Balaraj told MiD DAY. "Nobody can force us to go for prosecution after getting a sanction. But, I can say we are not dropping the option of prosecuting the chief minister."
He said the governor was scrutinising the documents they have submitted and would wait for his decision. However, he said they "can't force him for the sanction."
"We know what is happening. The BJP leaders may have managed to silence the complainants and I am afraid the issue will meet a silent death," said a Congress leader. "In case they back out, I want to take up the case."
However, the Congress high command is apparently not showing interest in the issue and they have asked the local leaders to go slow. Sources said that the Congress backed out from the protest planned jointly with the JD(S) in front of Raj Bhavan on Monday, at the behest of the high command.
"It was a strategic decision taken by the party," said V S Ugrappa, a Congress spokesperson. "But, that does not mean that we are soft peddling on the issue."
While there is a speculation that the governor was expected to give sanction on January 27, Bharadwaj said, "There is no question of bogging down to political pressure. I am exploring the legal options and will take the appropriate decision and when it is required."
Just in case
In the meantime, Yeddyurappa made a quick trip to Delhi with his cabinet colleagues including V S Acharya, and S Suresh Kumar, to discuss the issue with Arun Jaitley, leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and in-charge of BJP affairs in Karnataka. Sources said that they discussed about steps to be taken in case the governor gives the sanction.
