People of the State should decide on our exit, says Reddy

The Governor has taken the illegal mining issue to New Delhi to build pressure on Yeddyurappa to sacrifice the Reddys and Health Minister Sriramulu from the Cabinet. There has been rumblings within the BJP that the party is facing embarrassment because of the Reddys and their mining business.

When Janardhana Reddy was questioned whether he would mind moving out of the Cabinet to save the party from embarrassment, he said “people of the State should decide on such issues, not any individual.”

But unlike the Chief Minister, Reddy is not ready to shy away from a CBI probe into the mining. He says he will subscribe to the views of the party on the issue. Reddy has been fighting in the Supreme Court for a CBI probe into the Rs 150-crore scam in which former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy is allegedly involved.

Excerpts of Janardhana Reddy’s interactions with Deccan Herald on Thursday:

Why is the BJP opposing a CBI probe into illegal mining?

 I have never opposed a CBI inquiry into illegal mining. Ours is a national party and it has a different view on this issue. I stand by it. However, my personal opinion is different.

The Governor is going hammer and tongs against you.  How will you counter?

We will fight it out legally. Karnataka High Court has issued notices to the Governor and
others on a petition questioning the Governor’s act to refer Congress MLC K C Kondaiah’s complaint seeking our disqualification to the Election Commission.

Many within the BJP are wishing that the Bellary ministers trio be sacked to save the government.

Views of an individual or a group of individuals do not matter; people of the State should decide.

How will you counter the Opposition?

Sriramulu has announced to take out a padayatra. The party will work out the programme and execute it effectively. It will turn out to be a historic event.