Click to play videoNew Delhi: The BJP made it clear on Monday that Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa will not step down from the post of Karnataka Chief Minister as demanded by a group of rebel MLAs. BJP President Rajnath Singh made the announcement after meeting the rebel Reddy brothers.
CNN-IBN discussed on Talking point whether money power was at the heart of the Karnataka BJP crisis.
Joining in the discussion were BJP's Dhananjay Kumar and Congress Leader Dinesh Gundurao.
CNN-IBN: Isn't it true that you are being politically blackmailed by the Reddy brothers. They want the cases against them withdrawn, they have the money power now, they want their business deals through, that's the reason why this controversy is there?
Dhananjay Kumar: Howsoever you want me to answer your questions, I would emphatically say that the Reddy brothers are part of BJP government. Their business is separate, political activity is separate, no doubt, there has been some sort of issues raised by them and the main issue of change of leadership has been turned down by our national high command.
CNN-IBN:You are saying no question of change in leadership but what is the issue that the Reddy brothers have raised? Is it not true that they want their business deals to go through and drop the charges against them, even of kidnapping, isn't the bottomline that they have the money power which is why the BJP cannot isolate them completely? That's why you are saying they are a part of BJP even if they are attacking your leadership?
Dhananjay Kumar: All these happen in a family. They may be having many issues. Right now I don't have the details of the issues raised by them. Some of the issues can be discussed and I am firmly of the belief that all this could be amicably resolved.
CNN-IBN:What we are trying to get at is that the Reddy brothers have that clout. That clout was used during the Assembly elections and at this point in time, with all due respect to them, leaders who have been in politics for five to six years are now holding almost your entire leadership in ransom. They have a clout and that's why the entire top political brass of the BJP have been forced to follow what they are saying or at least listen to them carefully?
Dhananjay Kumar: Clout in the sense that they have a politica force behind them the whole of Bellary district has been won by BJP, the neighbouring Raichur, Koppal, Chitradurga, Gadag -- in all these areas, the BJP influence has been spread. That should be definitely considered as a clout of Reddy brothers. Apart from that money power shouldn't be brought in.
CNN-IBN:The charge which is being made against the Congress is that the Congress itself has in a sense encouraged the Reddy brothers, Jagan Reddy, the late YSR Reddy's son is a business partner of the Reddys, they are setting up a power plant together which is why even the Congress has been careful not to attack the Reddy brothers all these months and years?
Dinesh Gundurao: I wouldn't agree with that. That is all pure speculation. Congress in Karnatak has always attacked what has been happening in Bellary and the way government machinery has been misused and they way the forest being encroached upon and illegal mining which is taking place all under the leadership of Yeddyurappa who holds the mining and forest portfolio. Bear in mind, the Reddy brothers who were financing the operation Lotus, who were financing the whole defections that were engineered from the Congress and JDS. These people have been basicallly protected by the BJP
CNN-IBN:They are business partner of Jagan Reddy, who is a Congress leader?
Dinesh Gundurao: What they do in Andhra is none of our business in Karnatak but as far as politics go Congress has been fighting these elements and the use of money power and muscle power. Today, districts like Bellary and neighbouring districts have become places were nobody can question them (Reddy brothers) and this is because of the support that the BJP have been giving them.
CNN-IBN:Mr Dhananjay Kumar, you have been riding this a tiger which has a lot of cash in it, if I may use it, and now the tiger is biting you?
Dhananjay Kumar: You have every liberty to make expressions, but as a BJP worker I would always hold by comrades in highest esteem. He is my party colleague and part of our government in Karnataka so all these things attributed to them cannot be admitted by me. What I say is that we have never felt their business interests come in the way of political activity.
CNN-IBN:Dinesh Gundurao is accusing you of engineering defection in Karnataka through the money power of the Reddy brothers?
Dhananjay Kumar: I am only sympathising with the ignorance of Mr Gundurao. These all just allegations made by our political adversaries. Nobody can vouch with proof that Reddys have used money power for making people leave Congress and JDS and join BJP
CNN-IBN:The Congress is the main opposition party in Karnataka and yet we have seen that all through the last couple of days you have been actually just a spectator. Large parts of Karnatak are going through a terrible flood like situation. The MPs are not there in that area and the Congress has come with no statement you have just been watching in glee and fun?
Dinesh Gundurao: This is an internal thing with the BJP but what we are worried about is that whatever is happening is inhuman and atrocious. Today, lakhs of people are affected in Karnataka and the entire BJP is in Delhi, all the MLAs are either in Hyderabad or Goa. We don't want to interfere what's happening within the BJP but I think the time is coming that if things go on that there has to be some process where things have to come back to track. At a time when Karnataka is facing the worst ever disaster in the last 50 - 60 years, this is something that the BJP has to really look into. They have lost sense of responsibility.
CNN-IBN:BJP MLAs are in five star resorts in Hyderabad and Goa and 71 of the 24 MLAs are from the districts which are from the worst flood affected. What's the message being sent out to the people of Karnataka
Dhananjay Kumar: Dinesh would agree with me that the chief minister himself is supervising the relief work. He is fully engaged in wiping the tears of the people.
Dinesh Gundurao: The entire BJP is squabbling within themselves so how can they administer and implement the whole state. The authority of the CM has been questioned. The Reddy brothers have called the CM Khamsa from the Mahabharata. These kinds of allegations have been traded among each other so how can this administration function. I don't see the government regaining what it had before even if it comes to any understanding.
CNN-IBN: Is there going to be tamed BS Yeddyurrapa post this crisis?
Dhananjay Kumar: Yeddyurrapa has all along been indulged in going service to the people of Karnataka and to achieve overall development in Karnataka. I don't think there will be any change in the approach to the problems by the chief minister and the government with his heading.
CNN-IBN:Will you change you home minister that the Reddy brothers wanted, will you withdraw their cases, will you allow their business deals to go through, yes or no?
Dhananjay Kumar: You should ask this questions to the person who can really do it if at all it is asked for.
CNN-IBN: Is it true the going rate for an MLA now is Rs 20 crore?
Dhananjay Kumar: I have never seen Rs 20 crore in my life how can I say anything about such statement.
Dinesh Gundurao: I think the BJP crises has just begun. It is not only the Reddy brothers who are unhappy with the chief minister. There are more than 65 to 70 MLAs, including the speaker of the house who is unhappy with the chief minister. More things are going to happen and it is going to unravel itself.
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