Bangalore, Dec 19 (DHNS): Replying to governor H R Bhardwaj’s letters, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Sunday countered the land scam allegations against him and defended the mining activities by the Bellary ministers stating that it was their private business and had nothing to do with the government.

In his three-page reply, dispatched to Raj Bhavan, Yeddyurappa has pointed out that denotification of land referred to by the Governor, had also taken place during previous regimes including that of JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy and even then there were reports of irregularities.

Governor H R Bhardwaj, last week, had sought a detailed report from Yeddyurappa on the allegations of land scandals involving him and his family and also on mining affairs involving three Bellary ministers - G Janardhana Reddy, his brother G Karunakara Reddy and their associate B Sriramulu.

In his response, Yeddyurappa has also stated that the Governor’s missive had been based on, and motivated by Kumaraswamy’s complaint.

The Chief Minister has clarified that the land allotted to his son and daughter had been returned. On the issue of allotment of ‘G’ category site using his discretionary powers as chief minister, Yeddyurappa said he would follow the recent High Court order and stop such allotment. Justice B Padmaraj Commission of Inquiry, constituted by the government, has already started the process of inquiry into land scams since 1995, the letter has stated.

The Governor had also hit out at the chief minister for failing to act on the land scam and mining controversies and had directed him to respond to his letters at the earliest.  Yeddyurappa in his reply veiled in sarcasm, has told the Governor: “I equally share the concern exhibited by you in the letter about the propriety and probity required to be maintained in the administration of the state.”

Mining

In a separate reply regarding the mining affairs involving the Bellary ministers, Yeddyurappa has stated that the ministers had no subsisting contracts with the government.

Stating that a copy of the Governor’s letter had been forwarded to the ministers, Yeddyurappa has reminded the Governor that he had written two detailed letters on the same issue on July 13 and 19.

Yeddyurappa stated that the government had issued various instructions and circulars to curb illegal mining activities in the State. The circulars were being effectively implemented.

“We are sure that if proper cooperation and support is extended by the  Government of India for the measures suggested by us, it will go a long way in curbing illegal mining and increase the revenue for the State”, the letter states.

“It may not be out of place to state that former prime minister Deve Gowda who has submitted a petition before you, has also been requested to use his good offices to prevail upon the Government of India to co-operate in our above objective, and I hope in the interest of the State, you will do the same exercise,”he stated.