The resolutions adopted by the BJP State executive on Sunday steered clear of the demand for a separate religion status for Lingayats, its prominent support base, and the Income Tax raids against Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
Instead, the executive adopted two resolutions on “failure of law and order as well as the administration” in the State. The resolution on administrative failures of the Congress government made a vague reference to the Mr. Shivakumar saying that the State government had turned a blind eye to the alleged corruption of Ministers Mr. Shivakumar and Ramesh L. Jarkiholi. While the resolution desisted from attacking them, it only said the raids had showed how the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the State had failed.
Neither of the resolutions talk of the Lingayat issue, a community that BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa hails from. Mr. Yeddyurappa made a passing reference in his inaugural address condemning the State government for allegedly trying to divide the community.
The resolution on failure of law and order mainly focuses on the alleged communal killings in Mangaluru and failure of the State government to nab those allegedly behind the murder of RSS worker Sharath Madiwala. The resolution also blames Adviser to Home Minister M. Kempaiah for the failure of law and order in the State owing to the alleged reckless transfers of police officials.
Another resolution on the administrative failures of the government makes a litany of charges, including lack of support to honest officials, failure of ACB, lack of adequate funds for irrigation projects in the Krishna basin, and increasing liabilities of the State among others.
‘More leaders to join BJP’
Mr. Yeddyurappa said multiple internal surveys by the party and government had hinted at the BJP recapturing power in the State in the 2018 Assembly polls.
“More leaders from other parties are inclined to join the BJP. Three months before the polls, scores of leaders, beyond anyone’s imagination will join the BJP. All those joining the party need not be given Assembly tickets. We will ensure old workers are not met with injustice, but let the leaders join the party,” he said.
Call to boycott Chinese goods
The BJP State executive announced its support to Swadeshi Jagaran Manch’s swadeshi campaign “Be Indian, Go Swadeshi” and called upon people to boycott Chinese goods.
State BJP general secretary Shobha Karandlaje, who briefed media persons after the executive, said the party will support the swadeshi campaign, in protest against the Chinese stand on Doklam standoff. “We will not compromise on national security,” she said.