Renuka made us scapegoats: Asnotikar

Express News

Karwar, 07 November 2010: Anand Asnotikar, the disqualified MLA of Karwar and former fisheries minister, alleged that the 11 disqualified MLAs were made scapegoats by Excise Minister Renukacharya, to serve his own interest. He said rebellion was not new in the BJP. Janardhan Reddy, Sriramulu, Jagadish Shettar and MP Anantkumar too had raised the flag of rebellion against the leadership of Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa in the past.

 

He told reporters on Saturday that the 11 disqualified MLAs never intended to destabilise the BJP government. What  they wanted was a change in the leadership of the government.

 

Asnotikar alleged that the CM was autocratic in his approach. He had disregard for the MLAs and never cared to listen to the problems raised by them when it comes to development in their respective constituencies. “We always felt humiliated by the Chief Minister”, he said. He also accused the chief minister and his sons of corrupt practises.

 

He took a dig at state BJP president Eshwarappa, who, he said, tried to snub the MLAs by threatening that they would not be given party tickets in the next elections if they raised their voices.  The rebels never approached the Congress or the JD(S) for help. State JD(S) president HD Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah, opposition leader in the assembly, offered support themselves, he said, adding that the reported statement of Veerappa Moily, Union Law Minister and AICC secretary Ahmed Patel that Congress was ready to assist disqualified MLAs in their legal fight  was unwarranted.