Gadkari nixes BSY's truth test before the Lord

BANGALORE/MANGALORE: Chastened by the BJP president, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has called off an “oath of truth’’ along with JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy before Lord Manjunatha in Dharmasthala.
Both politicians will be in Dharmasthala on June 27, but to offer pooja — without coming face to face. The week-long drama over Yeddyurappa and Kumaraswamy settling their political scores before God was ended by BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, who cautioned the CM not to mix religion with politics.
Karnataka BJP president K S Eshwarappa on Friday announced the CM will not take the truth test as “it is not the BJP’s culture’’.
Gadkari, who was in Bangalore to attend a meeting of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industries, said it is not right to use religious places, especially temples, to settle political scores. “I’ve advised Yeddyurappa not to go in for a truth test before God,’’ he said.
Sources said Gadkari, in a closed-door meeting, strongly disapproved of Yeddyurappa issuing advertisements in newspapers. He was reportedly told the ads were the initiative of a minister close to Yeddyurappa. The battle was triggered by Kumaraswamy’s allegation that Yeddyurappa tried to buy peace through an emissary. The CM hit back through a press ad trashing the claim. Yeddyurappa challenged Kumaraswamy to take a truth test before Lord Manjunatha on June 27.
While Yeddyurappa and Kumaraswamy were preparing to meet at Dharmasthala, seers and religious figures prevailed on both to call it off. Gadkari said the BJP would fight out issues politically and legally.