Govt planning SIT to probe illegal ore export: CM

The state government is planning to constitute a special investigation team for probing illegal export of iron ore, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

"It is a Rs 25,000-crore scam. We will consider handing over the probe to the SIT," Siddaramaiah told reporters at Mangaluru International Airport on Saturday. The Central Bureau of Investigation has dropped its probe into the cases of illegal export of iron ore from Mangaluru and Karwar ports citing lack of evidence.

To a query on whether the Congress will organise a rally as an alternative to BJP's Nava Karnataka Parivarthana Yatra, the chief minister replied that there were no such plans. "Instead, I am planning to address public rallies in all the Assembly segments in the state," he said.

He said that the BJP Yatra will be a flop show and lacks support from people. "Only 20,000 people attended the Yatra flag off ceremony as against 3 lakh claimed by the BJP."