By IANS,
New Delhi: Demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into illegal mining in Karnataka, state Congress leaders Saturday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
The state Congress leaders also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.
After meeting Gandhi, Karnataka Congress chief R.V. Deshpande said Yeddyurappa had admitted in the state assembly that there was illegal mining in the state.
“It’s a big issue and a CBI probe should unearth the illegal mining network in Karnataka,” Deshpande said.
He said the Congress has been fighting against illegal mining and the scam-hit government for the last two and half years.
“It’s a big issue and the people want a CBI inquiry to expose the illegal mining network in the state. The network is also challenging the rule of law,” the leader told reporters.
He expressed hope that the central government would take initiative for a CBI probe.
The opposition Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in Karnataka have alleged that the Reddy brothers – Tourism Minister G. Janardhana, his elder brother and Revenue Minister G. Karunakara, and younger brother and legislator G. Somashekara – are involved in large-scale illegal mining in Bellary as well as neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
Besides Deshpande, Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Ministers Mallikarjun Kharge, K.H. Muniyappa, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddharamaiah and All India Congress Committee general secretary from the state B.K. Hariprasad were part of the delegation which met the leaders.
Describing illegal mining and the export of illegal iron ore as one of the biggest scams, Siddharamayya said “not only Reddy brothers”, the chief minister himself is responsible for it.
“The chief minister must quit as iron ore worth Rs.5,000 crore was exported illegally during his tenure,” he said.
“We demanded a CBI probe when we met the leaders, including the prime minister,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Yeddyurappa met Chidambaram here amid the undying crisis over illegal mining in the state and the opposition’s demand for a CBI probe into it.
Yeddyurappa said he briefed the home minister on the issue that has triggered a political crisis in Karnataka following a four-day standoff in the state legislature between the government and the opposition.