Karnataka govt sitting pretty on mining scam

With the CBI sending former minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy to judicial custody for his alleged involvement in illegal mining in Andhra Pradesh, pressure is mounting on the ruling BJP in Karnataka to hand over the hotly-discussed issue of illegal mining in the State to the Central investigative agency.

Compared to the large-scale illegal mining in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts in Karnataka, the case the CBI is investigating in Andhra Pradesh's Ananthapur district, where Reddy has four mining leases under Obulapuram Mining Company and Ananthapur Mining Company, is said to be negligible. The then government headed by K Rosaiah in Andhra Pradesh ordered the CBI probe into the alleged illegal mining in Ananthapur in 2009.

In Karnataka, it is not only Reddy, but political leaders across all parties, including former chief ministers, sitting MLAs and MPs and several noted mining and iron and steel companies are involved in the lucrative illegal mining in Karnataka. And the Bellary Reddy brothers have alleged played a major role in plundering the mineral resources of the State.

According to former advocate general of Karnataka Ashok Harnalli, law and order comes under the State subject in the federal set up. And as per the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, which is a Central legislation, permission of the State government is a must for the CBI to investigate any issue coming under the jurisdiction of the State. But courts have powers to order a CBI probe in extraordinary circumstances. However, the BJP government has flatly turned down the demand for a CBI probe, stating the party has taken a stand at the national level not to refer any probe to the CBI. The saffron party calls the CBI "a tool in the hands of the Centre to target opposition parties."

The government, in reality, is not ready to take any action against illegal mining, let alone a CBI probe. The Lokayukta’s first report on illegal mining, which was submitted to the government in 2008, is a testimony to this. None of the politicians and officials indicted in the report have been punished so far. Nor has any action been taken to stop the plundering of mineral resources. The ruling BJP is apprehensive that many of its top leaders, including former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, the Reddy brothers and many legislators would be in trouble if the CBI probed the issue.

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