Governor Receives Barrage of Complaints Against Reddy Brothers
Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bangalore, May 20 : After daring to take on the mighty Bellary mining lords – Ministers Gali Janardhana Reddy, Gali Karunakara Reddy and B Sriramulu – by serving a notice on a complaint regarding holding office of profit while being ministers, Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj had a busy day at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.
Opposition Congress leaders and those from JD(S) as well as private organistion Valmiki Sangha called on the Governor separately with almost a single point agenda of demanding stern action against the Bellary ministers for their alleged involvement in illegal mining apart from holding office of profit while being ministers.
A delegation of Congress leaders comprising former deputy chief minister M P Prakash, K C Kondaiah and former leader of Congress Opposition in the Legislative Council V S Ugrappa met Bhardwaj and furnished documents in support of their allegations that the Reddy brothers and their family associate Health Minister B Sreeramulu have violated FERA, IT and customs laws while exporting iron ore through a foreign trading company.
JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, who has been waging a relentless battle against the Reddy brothers, called on the Govenor later and demanded that the Bellary ministers should be sacked to uphold Constitutional norms.
The Congress delegation urged the Governor to initiate immediate steps under Article 192 of the constitution by seeking Election Commission’s opinion and pass orders on Congress MLC Kondaiah's petition seeking disqualification of Janardhana Reddy, Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy and Sriramulu contending that they attract the clauses of "office of profit.”
Speaking to reporters in the lawns of Raj Bhavan after meeting the Governor, Congress leader Ugrappa said the three ministers have also abused their position as ministers by influencing the government against implementing a November cabinet decision on imposing Rs 1000 cess on iron ore transporting lorries.
Ugrappa said Reddy and their family members as also Sreeramulu hold shares in GLA Trading Company and violated laws while exporting iron ore.
"We have offered to present some more documents at a later stage on Kondaiah's petition seeking disqualification of three ministers from their legislature membership,” Ugrappa said pointing out that the Governor has already issued show cause notices to them andfixed June 3 as the date of hearing.
Deve Gowda,who met Bhardwaj separately, requested him to direct the BJP Government to render protection to the family of a former employee of the Obulapuram Mining Corporation, who has turned an approver against Reddy in a case pertaining to illegal mining in Bellary district.
JD(S) state general secretary and spokesman Y S V Datta, said Deve Gowda briefed the Governor over the withdrawal of protection given to the employee Anjaneya and wanted that the family get immediate police protection.
The JD(S) national president urged the Governor to direct the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to initiate action to check illegal mining in Bellary district.
Meawhile, the Valmiki Sangha office-bearers, who met the Governor separately, demanded that the Social Welfare Minister D Sudhakar must be sacked for his alleged involvement in seven criminal cases and complaints of cheating and misappropriation of funds of around Rs 20 crore.
Deve Gowda disclosed that he had also been given a copy of the petition submitted by the Valmiki Sangha to the Governor and strongly supported their demands for sacking Sudhakar. He promised to launch a state-wide tour shortly to mobilise public opinion on the misdeeds of the Yeddyurappa ministry.