Yeddyurappa Arrest: No Advani Yatra in Bangalore, RSS says it is Embarassed
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Oct 22: Former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's stint in jail seems to be proving rather an embarassment for the BJP central leadership. Though state BJP president Eshwarappa had earlier stated that it would not hamper L K Advani's Rath Yatra to the state, the senior party leader has now changed his plans.
Advani has decided to skip Bangalore, and though no reasons were provided, it is apparent that Yeddyurappa and three other BJP former ministers being in jail, not to mention charges against others like home minister Ashok, has made the political situation too awkward for Advani's visit.
However, he will continue with his Jan Chetna Yatra against corruption as scheduled in the coastal parts of the state on October 31, sources clarified.
Besides Yeddyurappa, three other former ministers - mining baron G Janardhana Reddy, Katta Subramanaya Naidu and S N Krishnaiah Shetty - are also in jail. Of them, Reddy is lodged in Andhra jail.
In addition, a court decision on industries minister Murugesh Nirani is to come on Monday October 24, again on charges of land grab.
Advani's Yatra is scheduled to reach Dakshina Kannada district on October 30 from Kasargod in neighbouring Kerala.
He was to fly to Bangalore from Dakshina Kannada's main town Mangalore, about 350 km away, to address a public meeting in the evening.
Now he will continue the yatra by addressing meetings in Mangalore and several other places on the west coast Oct 31 and go on to neighbouring Goa the same day, sources said.
Advani had often expressed his displeasure over the way his party was running its first government in Karnataka, which it had once hailed as gateway to rule southern India.
In another development, the RSS for the first time on Saturday October 22 publicly acknowledged that it was embarrassed about the arrest of Yeddyurappa, who is a staunch RSS man.
"The recent episode of Yeddyurappa is an embarrassment to the RSS," the organization's joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said.
Yeddyurappa moved to Jan Sangh, BJP's earlier avatar, after being active in the RSS.
Hosable said: "Whenever Yeddyurappa visited Sangh headquarters here, RSS senior functionaries advised him as he is a Swayamsevak."
"If he has not taken the advice seriously, it is wrong to blame the RSS", Hosabale said.
However, he did not elaborate on the advice given.