From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 25: Congress leader V S Ugrappa, MLC, batted on behalf of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was accused by former BJP Deputy Chief Minister and Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa of allegedly receiving kickbacks of Rs 1000 crore from eight mining companies for renewing their licences.

Ugrappa, who addressed a news conference in Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday, was supported by Congress legislators P M Ashok, A Manju, Prabhu Patil, Abdul Jabbar and H M Revanna.

The Congress legislators contended that the renewal of the mining licences were done strictly in accordance with the law.

Ugrappa said the allegations made by Eshwarappa against Siddaramaiah were "utterly false and baseless and aimed at destabilizing the government."

Eshwarappa had alleged that there was a loss of over Rs 1000 crore to the State owing to renewal of licenses without auction. The Government had renewed licenses without following due process of law.

The BJP leader had taken strong exception to the chief minister’s decision of renewing the mining licences without following the auction route as had been laid down by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre as per the ordinance promulgated on January 12, 2015.

Interestingly, the State Government has renewed license of Sesa Sterlite Mines, which was under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Eshwarappa alleged.

Ugrappa said licenses were renewed as per the Supreme Court directives and guidelines of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act.