Daijiworld Media Network - Ballari (SP)

Ballari, Oct 30: Former minister and mining magnate, Gali Janardhana Reddy, said that Congress has created an environment of terror around his Bengaluru home. "Because of this development, a sense of insecurity has sunk into my mind," he said on Monday October 29. "Having been haunted by a feeling of being unsafe, I have been planning to shift my residence to a village in either north Karnataka or Hyderabad Karnataka region for better security," he explained, speaking to media persons at Hanagal in Molakalmuru taluk of the district on Monday October 29.

Reddy said he had twice approached the state government with a request for security but he had not received any response so far. He mentioned that during his visit to Hyderabad every time, the Telangana government extends to him Y category security. "Since sometime, I am going through a sense of lack of security as Congress has created fearful situation around my house at Bengaluru. If the Supreme Court refuses me again permission to live in Ballari, I will shift to a village within three to four months," he explained.

Reddy, who had been arrested for his alleged involvement with illegal iron ore mining, has secured bail. But he has been not permitted to visit Ballari district. He said charges of illegal mining leveled against him were false, and blamed Congress party for misusing Central Bureau of Investigation and sending him into jail for four years.

"They say I was involved with illegal mining worth one lac crore rupees. If so, how come the previous Congress government at the centre failed to recover anything from me? If the allegations are true, how did CBI file chargesheet against me for loss of Rs 200 to 300 crore," he questioned. He also said he is ready for a debate with Congress leaders on this issue. He even said he is ready for open debate on this issue.

Reddy predicted that people of Ballari will not stop supporting B Sriramulu in spite of how much D K Shivakumar spends here. The people are with Sriramulu, he asserted.

At the same time, addressing a meeting at Kudligi, former chief minister, Siddaramaiah, said he is ready to accept the challenge posed by Janardhan Reddy for a debate. He asked Reddy to fix time and venue for the debate. He said it would be in the interests of Reddy if he keeps his mouth shut. "If he continues to prod us, his bail will be cancelled, and he will have to stay inside jail again," he warned.