SIT for mining scam likely: Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the State government is mulling over constituting Special Investigation Team (SIT), to probe into illegal export of iron ore.

The Central Bureau of Investigation is closing cases related to Karnataka's multi-crore mining scam citing lack of evidence.  CBI has ended its investigation into illegal ore export from ports in Mangaluru, Goa, and Krishnapatnam.

Speaking to reporters at Mangaluru International Airport here on Saturday, the CM said "It is a Rs 25,000 crore scam. We will discuss and examine   handing over the case to the SIT."

To a query on whether Congress will hold a rally as a counter to BJP's Nava Karnataka Parivarthana yatra, the Chief Minister said that no rally will be held. "Instead I am planning to address public rally in all the Assembly segments in the State," he said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described BJP's Nava Karnataka Parivarthana yatra as "paschatapa yatra" (yatra for repentance) for the 'misdeeds' of the BJP leaders. "The yatra will flop. They had claimed 3 lakh people would attend instead only 20,000 attended. The yatra does not have public support," the CM remarked.