Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, May 11: The mining barons from Bellary, Janardan Reddy, Karunakar Reddy and B Sriramulu, who were served a second notice by the state Governor to personally meet him to clarify their stand on the allegations of illegal mining, encroachment of state’s border and others against them, chose to cold-shoulder it. The Governor refused to accept the clarifications for the notice furnished by the ministers through their legal counsels. He has now served them notices to personally be present at the Raj Bhavan on June 3 to clarify their stand on the allegations.

This is for the first time in the state, that the Governor has issued notices to the ministers directly to present themselves before him. The prevalent practice is to get clarifications if any, from the Chief Minister and the chief secretary. It may be recalled that recently, Congress leaders from Bellary, like K C Kondaiah and others, had met the Governor, H R Bhardwaj, and complained to him that the mines of the said ministers had violated the state’s border and that the state government had extended them help by withdrawing cases standing against them. They had also charged the ministers of being in the government and wielding their power to plunder the state’s resources illegally.

Upon receipt of the memorandum from the Congress delegation, the Governor had asked the three ministers to meet him and clarify their stand. As they did not budge, he served them a second notice, to be present before him on Monday May 10. The Reddy brothers chose to send their lawyers, Ravishankar and Yadav, to furnish him the replies, instead of personally going there. The lawyers told the Governor that a few persons were engaged in spreading false propaganda against the ministers, having been jealous of their progress. They said that it would be improper to discuss about the allegations of illegal mining at this juncture, as the matter is before the Supreme Court, and insisted that the state’s border was not violated by the mining companies owned by the ministers. They sought time to submit written statements.

The Governor, who was unhappy at the disobedience shown by the ministers, has now asked then to present themselves before him to clarify their stand on June 3. After this curious development, the next step of the three ministers is being awaited.