Guv seeks CM's reply on graft, mining charges

Bhardwaj sends 2 missives to BSY

The governor also asked Yeddyurappa not to ignore corruption charges against the chief minister and his ministerial colleagues.

Bhardwaj, through his two letters to the Chief Minister on December 15, had sought the details of all business interests by Bellary Ministers—Janardhana Reddy, Karunakara Reddy and B Sriramulu. He also cited a newspaper report which allege tax evasion by the Bellary mine owners.

In another letter, the governor directed Yeddyurappa to explain the factual position on alleged land scams by the government.

On Thursday, the chief minister had said that he had not received the letters.
Bhardwaj, replying to questions by journalists on the sidelines of a function in Bangalore, said he expected Yeddyurappa to reply to the letters. “He (the chief minister) is not in the City now. I expect him to respond to my letters as soon as he returns,” he said.

CM’s reply in two days

The chief minister returned from Haveri in the evening. His secretariat told Deccan Herald that Yeddyurappa is unlikely to reply by evening. In Haveri, Yeddyurappa said he would reply to the governor’s letters within two days.

He also said he would elaborately answer the issue the governor has raised regarding purchase of lands and business interests of the ministers.

Bhardwaj, referring to the alleged scams, said “the government can’t turn a blind eye to corruption.” 

Expressing happiness over the Andhra Pradesh High Court vacating stay on the CBI probe into allegations of illegal mining, he said the Karnataka government has not acted regarding the charges the Reddy brothers were facing nor it was doing anything against the charges against the chief minister.

Just duty

On accusations made by some BJP leaders that he was working like a “Congressman,” the governor said he was just doing his duty as the head of the state and in the interests of the people at large.

In the past, too, the governor had written to the chief minister seeking details on illegal mining. Only twice did the the chief minister respond. But the replies were not specific in nature, official sources pointed out. And that is the precise reason why the governor has asked Yeddyurappa to reply in detail, they added.