Karnataka BJP issues senior party leader show cause over 'remarks'

Bengaluru: BJP MLA in Karnataka Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who accused senior BJP leader and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa last year of embezzling Rs 40,000 crore during the Covid-19 pandemic, has been issued by a show cause notice by the state-level party leadership. The notice, issued on Sunday, was issued for making remarks against the party leadership in Karnataka, Asian News International reported.

In December last year, Yatnal alleged that under the Yediyurappa government, Rs 40,000 crore was embezzled during the first wave of Covid-19. He warned that he would expose the “irregularities” if he was to be expelled from the party. He said that he would take out the names of those who “looted and made property wherever.” The government then billed 8 to 10 lakh rupees for each corona patient.

However, he never stopped issuing such accusations and remarks against the state BJP, which has now invited the show cause notice.

Asian News International quoted the show cause notice, "Your continuing tirade against the state-level party leadership and your defiance of party directives and making public pronouncements and stance in contravention of the party's official stand on all matters of political and public importance has been reported in media as well as by different party forums."

"It is also a matter of great concern that despite having been issued a show cause notice several times in the past and your assurances of good conduct, the acts of indiscipline continue unabated," it said.

The letter reminded that the party’s Central Disciplinary Committee took a lenient view of his past explanations due to his seniority and long-standing in the party.

"False and veiled allegations levelled by you against the party leaders together with defiance of the official stand of the party on matters of political and public importance, constitute a serious breach of the party discipline as defined in Article XXV of BJP Party Rules 'Breach of Discipline section (a) and (1). Please show cause as to why the party should not take disciplinary action against you. Your explanation should be submitted to the undersigned no later than ten days from the receipt of this notice," the notice read.

Earlier, Yatnal had proposed a public awareness campaign on amendments to the Waqf Bill, but the party leadership strongly objected against him and others for organizing an independent event.

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