Bengaluru DHNS: Party to protest if Vajubhai Vala fails to apologise to former PM. Smarting under the Raj Bhavan’s “snub” at former prime minister H?D?Deve Gowda, the JD(S) plans to demand the Governor’s recall.

Governor Vaju Bhai Vala had refused to meet Gowda who had been to Raj Bhavan on Monday to submit a memorandum demanding the scrapping of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The party is also planning an agitation against the Governor besides requesting the President to recall Vala on grounds that he insulted the former prime minister.

But sources at Raj Bhavan said the Governor had not given a written appointment to Gowda on that day.

Sources said that when the JD(S) sought an appointment with the Governor, Vala and his ADC were in Gujarat. The ADC had said he would get back to Gowda in this regard. According to protocol, meeting the Governor is only through appointment.

Reacting strongly to the treatment meted out to Gowda, JD(S) MLA?YSV?Datta said the ADC?had orally confirmed a meeting with Vala.

“On the day of the agitation against the ACB at Freedom Park, the High Grounds police station ACP called us and asked us to be at Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor between 2 pm and 3 pm. We wound up the protest and went to meet Vala. After waiting for long, the ADC told us the Governor had been resting since 12 noon after lunch.”

Datta said if the Governor fails to apologise to the former prime minister within the next two days, the party would begin an agitation involving like-minded politicians and pro-Kannada organisations. “A letter would be written to the President to recall the Governor, who has insulted the people of Karnataka,” he said.

“The expenses of Raj Bhavan, which runs to crores of rupees, is met by the tax payers and people of Karnataka. If the Governor has no time even to meet a former prime minister, then why should we have such person? All Kannadigas in Raj Bhavan have been driven out and replaced by Gujaratis,” Datta charged.