Wednesday, September 20 2006 16:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Continuing its campaign against Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, the Congress today (Sept 20,2006) requested the Governor T N Chaturvedi to invoke 'discretionary' powers vested in him under article 163 (2) of the Constitution and refer the Rs 150 crore bribery charges to CBI investigations.

"The present government in power has uprooted the very concept of Rule of Law and is making mockery of democracy",Opposition Congress leader in state Legislative Council H K Patil stated in a letter written to governor, in which he has also urged the constitutional head to recommend dismissal of the Kumaraswamy Government.

Patil releasing the copies of letter at a press conference here said he has informed the governor that the alarming corrupt practices and brutal murders taking place in public places and the inaction by the government goes to indicate broadly the break down of constitutional machinery.

"The city of Bangalore itself has witnessed 16 murders in April, 20 in May, 12 during June, 16 in July, 27 in August and 19 in September so far," he said.

Patil also pointed out in his nine-page letter that the Kumaraswamy governemnt has been in the thick of controversy right from the very process through which it came to be installed.

"There is a widespread fear among people of Karnataka that there is an imminent danger to the rule of Law" he said while pleading for Governor's intervention to protect democracy and uphold democratic principles