Cong, JD(S) gave maximum mining leases: DVS

Rubbishing the allegations of the opposition parties of BJP backing mining lords in the state, Chikmagalur-Udupi MP D V Sadananda Gowda said that maximum iron ore mining leases were recommended by Congress and JD(S) chief ministers.

Addressing a news conference on Monday Gowda said that B S Yeddyurappa had recommended to the Government of India only 24 mining leases while 47 cases were recommended to the centre during former CM H D Kumaraswamy’s 20 months tenure.

“Out of these 47 cases 22 were recommended during last 15 days of his rule,” said Gowda adding that a total of 106 mining leases were recommended to the centre by chief ministers S M Krishna (16), Dharam Singh (43), Kumaraswamy (47). Governor Rameshwar Thakur himself had made recommendations for 22 mining leases. Gowda said that with this 152 mining lease recommendations from the state, 128 were sent by non-BJP governments.

Apart from this, Gowda revealed that a hefty sum of Rs 167 crore has flown into the account of M/s BSK Trading, a company dealing in iron ore trading and owned by HDK’s brothers and sisters.Further, Gowda said that the Apex Court had ordered suspension of 19 mining leases based on the report of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC). All of these 19 cases were recommended during the rule of Congress and JD(S).

“With Congress and JD(S) having contributed so much towards exploitation of our natural resources, they are now trying to prove to the citizens of this country that BJP is the one involved in illegal mining. The series of meaningless protests and campaigns are being staged by them to mislead the public,” he said.

Holding up the BJP Government in the state, Gowda said that Yeddyurappa Government took the initiative to bring out a new mining policy with emphasis on value addition. Karnataka is the first state in the country to introduce such a value added policy. He said that in the interest of having tranparency and accountability, the BJP Government in Karnataka has suo-moto extended the scope of the Lokayukta enquiry to cover the period of the present Government. The BJP Government also took the historic step in July 2010 of banning export of iron ore from the state.

Commenting on the series of protests being staged by Congress and JD(S), Gowda said that these two parties are not competing with BJP but they are fighting against each other for the seat of opposition party. “JD(S) has lost its identity hence its Supremo is now planning to fight against illegal mining on a non-party front. Congress is busy staging protests to show that it is still in existence,” said Gowda.