Governor Renews Attack on Yeddyurappa Govt

Bangalore, Dec 17 (PTI): Renewing his attack on the BJP government, Governor H R Bhardwaj on Friday charged it with having ''failed'' to check illegal mining and demanded that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa reply to his recent letters on illegal mining and alleged land scams.

"Illegal mining is still continuing. No action is taken by the government here," Bhardwaj, who wrote to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa two days ago seeking a report on the issue, told reporters here.

Bhardwaj expressed happiness over the Andhra Pradesh High Court vacating stay on CBI probe into allegations of illegal mining in that state and described it as a "good development".

Tourism Minister and mining magnate G Janardhana Reddy had earlier secured a stay on CBI investigations after Andhra government ordered probe into illegal mining by firms, including Obulapuram Mining Corporation, owned by Reddy. However, Bhardwaj said no action had been taken in Karnataka to check illegal mining, apparently targetting Bellary ministers, Janardhana Reddy and his brother Karunakara Reddy and their close associate Sriramalu.

The Governor said he had sought reports on the illegal mining issue on earlier occasions too, but the government did not respond. "It is my duty to protect the state's interest. I have written several letters to the state government on various issues. I am also sending reports every month to the Centre on the happenings, which I continue to do," Bhardwaj said.

"As a Governor I have to check whether what is appearing in the media is correct and if it is correct, I must get a report. I have a right under the constitution," he asserted, justifying his latest letters to Yeddyurappa.

At Gadag, Yeddyurappa told reporters that his office had received two letters from the Governor and he would reply to them in two days time. State unit BJP President K S Eswrappa flayed Bhardwaj's comments against the government and said, "The Governor is behaving like an opposition leader."