PRESENT: Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa displaying the sword presented to him by party workers in Belgaum on Sunday.

Belgaum: Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has challenged his political opponents to destabilise the Janata Dal (S)-BJP coalition Government in the State.

Speaking at a felicitation function organised by the Belgaum district and Belgaum city units of the party here on Sunday, Mr. Yediyurappa said: "Who has the power to destabilise our Government?"

Without referring to NICE or the recent bribery charge made against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Mr. Yediyurappa said despite certain unexpected developments, people wanted the coalition Government to continue and complete its term.

That the BJP enjoyed popular support was proved by the fact that four of its six candidates got elected to the Legislative Council. He called upon the workers to launch a massive membership drive and enrol at least 10,000 members in each Assembly constituency to strengthen the party instead of running to Bangalore seeking nominations to boards and corporations, even as he promised that loyal workers would not be neglected.

Stating that no programme or promise made by the Government would be given up, Mr. Yediyurappa said the Government would soon issue orders for their implementation. He announced more sops for farmers and weavers in the next budget. He said the Janata Dal (S)-BJP Government was the first to make farm loans available at 4 per cent interest.

Mr. Yediyurappa asked party workers to seek the advice of RSS members, who for some reason were disappointed with the BJP. "Hold discussions with RSS members and apologise if you have committed any mistakes... I will myself spend at least half a day for such meetings," he said and pointed out that such an experiment had been held in Shimoga recently.

Mr. Yediyurappa laid the foundation stone for the construction of the new Belgaum Zilla Panchayat Bhavan. Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister C.M. Udasi, Horticulture Minister Shashikant Naik, Lok Sabha members Ramesh Jigajinagi and Suresh Angadi, and zilla panchayat president Fakeerappa Gorbal also spoke.

Later in the evening, the Deputy Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for construction of new building of the Sangolli Rayanna Residential School at Nandgadh in Khanapur taluk.

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