JOIN USIt also sought CBI probe into illegal mining in the state.The state team told the two leaders that although the state government’s approval was required to order CBI inquiry, it was not needed in the present case as export of illegal ore had taken place from the ports of several states such as Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Tamil Nadu.
“Also, there are violations of laws such as customs, excise, and foreign exchange management Act—all of which come under the domain of the Centre. Hence, this is a fit case for the CBI,” they added.
The state delegation consisted of KPCC president R V Deshpande, working president D K Shiv Kumar, Opposition leaders Siddarmaiah and Motamma and other leaders such as H K Patil, V S Ugrappa, Kondaiah and Saleem Ahmed.
Also present on the occasion were Union minister Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC working committee Oscar Fernandes, AICC general secretary B K Hariprasad and Union minister of state K H Muniyappa.
Siddaramaiah told reporters that from 2003-04 to 2009-10, a total of 2.95 crore metric tonne of illegal iron ore worth about Rs 20,000 crore has gone out of the state through exports.
While high grade iron ore cannot be exported, what was being exported was exactly this, in the name of low grade iron ore, he added.Siddaramaiah said a meeting would be held in Bangalore on Sunday to discuss the date for the proposed padayatra from Bangalore to Bellary.