From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 24: If BJP’s Opposition Leader in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar raised a hue and cry over the alleged irregularities in the Arkavathy land denotification issue, the party’s Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa has directly alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has received 'kickbacks' from eight private mining companies.

The former BJP Deputy Chief Minister Eshwarappa, who addressed a news conference in Bengaluru on Tuesday, openly alleged that Siddaramaiah had received kickbacks from private mining firms for his decision to renew mining licences of eight companies without 'auctioning' them.

Eshwarappa alleged that Siddaramaiah had received kickbacks either for himself or for the party’s fund.

He demanded immediate cancellation of renewal of mining license of eight firms.

Shettar’s allegation on Arkavathy land denotification issue resulted in Siddaramaiah trying to turn the tables on the BJP and JD(S), the main detractors, by raising the issue of the denotifications done when they were in power and ordering a judicial inquiry by Justice Kempaih, retired judge of Karnataka High Court.

Now, Eshwarappa charged that there was a huge loss of over Rs 1000 crore to the State exchequer owing to renewal of licenses without auction.

The BJP leader urged the Government to auction mines in the State as per the ordinance promulgated by the Centre on January 12, 2015.

The BJP alleged that the government had renewed leases to eight firms out of 108 firms.

"Why the Government is biased in renewing licenses?" he asked and sought an answer from the Chief Minister on the issue.

The Chief Minister is taking shelter under the recommendations of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), Eshwarappa said and asked Siddaramaiah to prove why the auctioning route was not followed instead of merely renewing the licences directly.

He asserted that the State government had the powers to renew mining leases under Section 8 (3) of the MMDR Act and the ordinance did not touch this section.

Interestingly, the government has renewed license of SesaSterlite Mines, which was under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Eshwarappa alleged.