Siddu Wants Yeddy to Quit and Axing of `Mining’ Ministers
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bangalore, Nov 18: Even as the Andhra Pradesh Congress minister K Rosaiah has urged the Centre to order a CBI probe into the mining leases granted to the Obulapura Mining Company (OMC) owned by the Bellary Reddy Brothers and other alleged irregularities in the illegal mining activities in the neighbouring state, Congress opposition leader in Karnataka assembly Siddaramaiah has demanded chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s resignation for failing to protect the natural mineral wealth.
The Congress opposition leader, who had served as the deputy chief minister in the Dharam Singh-led Congress-JD(S) coalition ministry following the hung assembly verdict in the 2004 assembly elections, also demanded the sacking of all the ministers involved in the alleged mining irregularities and guilty of illegal mining in the forest areas.
Siddaramaiah accused the the Bellary mining lords led by tourism and infrastructure minister G Janaradhana Reddy and his elder brother and revenue minister G Karunakara Reddy as well as health minister B Sriramulu and other mining barons of violating the forest, mining and income tax laws besides causing heavy losses to the state exchequer.
Demanding lodging of criminal cases against all the ``guilty’’ persons for their ``illegal mining, encroachment and construction of unauthorised roads’’ to carry out their illegal transportation of iron ore, Siddaramaiah said the chief minister should own responsibility for his lapses and quit on his own.
`Yeddyurappa has clearly failed to discharge his constitutional duty of protecting the state's natural wealth,’’ he said pointing out that the Andhra Pradesh government’s request to the Centre for a CBI probe into the mining leases granted to OMC was unlikely to be a comprehensive one even if conceded by the UPA government as long as the Karnataka government fails to make a similar request for CBI inquiry regarding the illegal mining activities within the state.
'There is a prima facie case to refer the entire issue of illegal mining in both Andhra Pradesh and Karnatakar to the CBI if truth should come out,’’ he said pointing out that the Reddy Brothers should prove their innocence.
Siddaramaiah said he was surprised to see the chief minister’s failure to respond to the vociferous demands for comprehensive demands for a CBI probe when even Janardhana Reddy himself had welcomed the neighbouring state’s move to request to the Centre for the same.
When Janardhana Reddy says he welcomes the CBI probe as it provides an opportunity to prove their innocence as they had not violated any laws, why is the chief minister silent?,’’ the Congress leader asked.
Siddaramaiah said the Andhra government had provided mining permits to the Obulapuram and the Anantapuram mining corporations, which are owned by the Bellary Mining Lords and ministers in the Yedddyurappa cabinet, for mining iron ore from 68.5 hectares and 6.5 hectares in Anantapur district. But they had mined 37 lakh tonnes iron ore from Anantapur and on the Karnataka side of the inter-state boundary adjoining Bellary district. Anantapur District Forest Officer Kallol Biswas issued four notices and questioned the alleged irregularities by both firms, which was a clear indication of mining in the reserved forest area, he mentioned.
Pointing out that Karnataka Lokayukta as well as Conservator of Forests U V Singh-led committee reports had also clearly specified illegal mining and destruction of the border areas by two mining companies, Siddaramaiah said claiming that the Reddy Brothers paid penalty for laying the roads in the reserved forest area, which was again an admission of the violation of the Reserve Forest Act of 1980.
He contended that Yeddyurappa was afraid to order a CBI probe fearing that it would lead to losing his power. The public would suspect the involvement of the chief minister himself in the illegal mining if the government failed to take legal action against them, Siddaramaiah added.