BSY partner in illegal mining: Siddaramaiah
‘Waiting to see what action govt will take on CEC report’
Alleging that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is also a partner in illegal mining activities in the State, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah has demanded that Yeddyurappa should resign and a CBI inquiry should be ordered into the illegal mining case.
Speaking to mediapersons at Hubli Airport on Wednesday, he said Yeddyurappa was repeatedly saying there was no illegal mining in the State. Now that the CEC report is out, he has admitted that illegal mining is going on in the State, Siddaramaiah said.
Yeddyurappa tried to hide the truth, as he has taken money from those involved in illegal mining.
“In Yeddyurappa’s term itself, 1.05 crore metric tonnes of ore was illegally exported from the State. He never tried to stop illegal mining. Therefore, Yeddyurappa and his government are responsible for illegal mining in the State,” Siddaramaiah said.
After seeing what action is taken based on the CEC report on illegal mining, the Congress will decide on approaching people again, on the model of the padayatra from Bangalore to Bellary, he said.
“Mining licences may have been given during the Congress and JD(S) regimes also. Giving licence is not illegal, but misusing it or involving in mining activities without licence is illegal,” Siddaramaiah said.
People would teach a lesson to the BJP in the next elections. Byelections are not fair and free elections, as the ruling party distributes money to purchase votes of poor people, he noted.
‘CM misused convention’
Siddaramaiah said Yeddyurappa misused the 22nd convention of the Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha, as that programme was not a platform to seek support from seers.
“Yeddyurappa should remember that he is the chief minister of the entire State and not just of a particular community. It is a disgrace for him to seek the support of the seers for his illegal acts,” Siddaramaiah said.
