Cong distorting my statement on rebel MLAs: Yediyurappa

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Sunday charged Congress with distorting his statement in a leaked audio clipping on rebel MLAs, even as opposition party anunced state-wide protests over his 'confession' on BJP leership's involvement in it. Congress also said y would mention matter before Supreme Court on Monday. Yediyurappa said those who resigned (disqualified MLAs) h done so for ir own reasons and party did t have anything to do with it.

"What has to be done next our party will decide, our national president will decide- this is what I said, thing else," Yediyurappa said, defending his statement in leaked audio tape.
 

Speaking to reporters here, Chief Minister denied having said that he would give tickets to those who resigned and said matters were being unnecessarily distorted "to create confusion in Supreme Court."

"....re is meaning to it... demanding Amit Shahs resignation is foolishness. This is false propaganda...people will teach a lesson (to Congress) in by-election.
 

Yediyurappa said what he h stated in clipping was that whole country was aware that disqualified MLAs were in Mumbai.

"What does Amit Shah have to do with it..(distortion of statement) is being done for publicity. I condemn this conduct of Siddaramaiah," he ded.
 

A purported audio clipping of Yediyurappa expressing anguish against leers at a recent party meeting in Hubballi over ir opposition to giving tickets to disqualified Congress-JD(S) MLAs for December 5 assembly bypolls in 15 assembly constituencies h surfaced on Friday. In audio, he can be heard saying that rebel Congress JD(S) MLAs, who were later disqualified, were kept in Mumabi during final days of coalition government under BJP national President Amit Shah's watch.

He h hit out at party leers for lack of support in "saving" BJP government and t recognizing ir "sacrifice", behind party coming to power. Following audio tape release, a Congress delegation, led by Siddaramaiah, h met Goverr on Saturday and submitted a memorandum to President through him, demanding dismissal of Yediyurappa led BJP government and removal of Amit Shah from union council of ministers.

Rejecting Yediyurappas allegations on distortion of his statement,state Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao argued that it was BJP's internal meeting and audio clipping would have been released by someone who attended it. ting that Yediyurappa has agreed that it was his voice, Rao said it was clear that it was a 'conspiracy' by him and union Home Minister to bring down n coalition government through defections.

"It is clear that this was an anti-constitutional move to pull down (coalition) government, violating anti-defection law. y are party to it, it is very clear. So we will mention it in Supreme Court tomorrow and bring it to tice of court and people," Rao said.
 

He said bigger proof was need of defections than 'confession' by Chief Minister himself. He alleged that 'Operation Lotus' (poaching) happened under leership of Amit Shah himself, proving that re was a conspiracy to pull down government

"So disqualification was correct," he said.
 

resignation and absence of 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs from trust vote h le to fall of coalition government, and me way for BJP to come to power. After it fell, n Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar h disqualified m as MLAs,ruling that those disqualified cease to be MLAs with immediate effect till expiry of 15th assembly (in 2023), which y have challenged in Supreme Court. matter is currently being heard by Apex Court.

Meanwhile,Congress decided to st protests on issue at all district hequarters on Monday and submit a memorandum to President through District Deputy Commissioners to dismiss BJP government and to drop Home Minister Amit Shah, who it said, is 'mastermind' from union cabinet. BJP state president Kateel charged Siddaramaiah of being involved behind audio release as he desired to become Chief Minister.

"It was an internal meeting in which we leers were re. Ors were also re. How can we say it is done by BJP karyakartas? We will inquire into everything and bring out truth."
 

Bypolls to 15 out of 17 seats represented by disqualified MLAs will be held on December five. Amid opposition from local party leers in se 15 constituencies, Yediyurappa h recently assured that tickets would be given to disqualified MLAs if y wished to contest from BJP and h appointed party contenders for tickets re as hes of boards and corporations.