TDP chief steps up campaign against Reddy brothers
TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu today stepped up his campaign against the Reddy brothers of Karnataka by inviting leaders of non-Congress, non-BJP parties for a meeting here on December 9 to discuss the illegal mining activities by companies owned by the influential siblings.
The all-party meeting is essentially to mount pressure on the Centre to take action against the 'mining mafia' in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Naidu told reporters here.
He said the leaders will also try to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the following day seeking his intervention in the issue.
"Parties like CPM, CPI, AIADMK, JD(S), JD (U), SP, RLD, INDL, BJD and RJD will participate in the meeting on Wednesday in New Delhi. We will meet to fight out the Reddy brothers and others involved in the mining scam," he said.
He also demanded that the Centre order a CBI probe and appoint a Joint Parliamentary Committee to go into the issue.
Asked whether he got in touch with BJP leaders over the mining issue, Naidu said he felt it would not yield any result as the party had "surrendered" to Karnataka Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy.
However, the TDP chief said he was prepared to even meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi if it would yield any "positive result", and also with UPA allies like National Conference and DMK.
Naidu accused the Centre and Andhra Pradesh governments of not taking action against the companies, including Obalapuram Mining Corporation that is owned by the Reddy's, and is involved in illegal mining in Anantapur district.
Asked whether he saw this an opportunity for the revival of the Third Front, Naidu said he does not want to comment on it but he will continue to fight for the people along with like-minded parties.
Citing an affidavit filed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in the Supreme Court yesterday, Naidu said the Ministry had "complained against the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh" of not providing security to the Survey of India officials.
"The Andhra Pradesh government and Chief Minister K Rosaiah have to answer all these questions. We will not leave them until they answer," Naidu said.
Quoting the affidavit, he said the state government failed to provide security to the Survey of India team to survey the area where it is alleged that the Obalapuram Mining Company is indulging in large scale illegal mining in the reserved Bellary Forest.
Naidu's demands come in the wake of the Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee coming down heavily on the OMC for carrying out illegal mining operations in the Bellary Reserve Forest area and indicted the Andhra government for trying to cover up the illegal mining of iron ore.
The state government had last week suspending mining operations at six iron ore mines in three villages in Anantapur district.
