Left, JDS, RLD ask Yeddyurappa, Speaker to Quit

May 19, 2011:JOINT PRESS STATEMENT:
(Read out by CPI (M) Politburo Member Sh Sitaram Yechuri)at residence of former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) National President Shri H D Deve Gowda:

Leaders of Janata Dal (Secular), CPI (M), CPI, Forward Bloc and Rashtriya Lok Dal have issued the following joint statement in New Delhi on the existing situation in Karnataka state.

The quashing by the Supreme Court of the Karnataka Assembly Speaker’s decision to disqualify 16 MLAs prior to the Confidence Vote and dismissal of application filed by B S Yeddyurappa seeking their disqualification is a clear and severe indictment of both. The Supreme Court has termed this decision “unconstitutional”. Chief Minister Yeddyurappa hence has no right to continue in office in the light of the severe stricture passed by the Supreme Court of India. Both the Speaker and the Chief Minister have neither the moral nor the legal right to continue in office. They must quit forthwith.

The meeting was attended by former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) National President Shri H D Deve Gowda, State JDS President and former Karnataka Chief Minister Shri H D Kumaraswamy, JD (S) Secretary General Kunwar Danish Ali, CPI (M) General Secretary Shri Prakash Karat, CPI (M) Politburo Member and party leader in Rajya Sabha Shri Sitaram Yechury, CPI General Secretary Shri A.B Bardhan, CPI Secretary and Leader of the party in Rajya Sabha Shri D. Raja, Rashtriya Lok Dal President Shri Ajit Singh and Forward Bloc General Secretary Shri Debabrata Biswas.