JOIN USTalking to reporters after inaugurating the Dr B R Ambedkar Community Hall in H D Kote on Saturday, he said Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa claimed that the State’s financial position was pink and got an excess of Rs 3,000 crore.
If that is the case why the government failed to clear contractor bills worth Rs 8,000 crore, he questioned. Asked about CM’s statement holding all previous governments responsible for illegal mining, Kharge shot back: “What they were doing then when the government committed mistake. Why they failed to failed to hold agitation and why they did not demand action against the culprits”.
On the implementation of ‘Rashtriya Swasthabhim scheme’ in the State, the Union minister said this scheme had been implemented on pilot basis in three districts of the state.
The State government has mentioned in its Budget regarding implementation of the scheme. However, the Union Government was committed to implement the programme all over the State, he added.
CM responsible
Leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah held the CM responsible for illegal mining in the State.
The licence is issued by the Union Government only after the recommendation of the State governments. But, it was the duty of the states to check illegal mining.
In fact, the Lokayukta had submitted a detailed report on illegal mining in December, 2008.
Yeddyurappa did not take action on the basis of the report, fearing he would be dethroned. The CM was happy since he was one of the beneficiaries of the illegal mining, he alleged.
Siddaramaiah said 3.5 thousand crore metric tonnes of iron ore had been transported illegally after the BJP came to power. The State was incurring heavy loss because of CM’s soft corner towards mining, he added.