Rout Reddys politically to save Bellary : Siddaramaiah

"If Bellary is to be saved and its resources are to be preserved, Reddys should be eliminated politically. They are not developing Bellary, but cheating people by promising development", he said at a rally at the culmination of the party's 320 km padayatra from Bangalore against the illegal mining issue.

Describing himself as a "true Kannadiga", the Congress leader called the Reddy brothers "outsiders" in the state.

"These outsiders dared me to come to Bellary. Bellary is part of Karnataka. I am a Kannadiga. Is Bellary their fiefdom, or they are emperors there? They have no culture. Nor do they have any links with any family with a political background", Siddaramaiah alleged.

He demanded to know from where the brothers have earned so much money.
"In 2003-04 they did not have taxable income. But now they speak of investment of Rs 57,000 crore. From where did they earn so much," he asked.

He accused Yeddyurappa of being the "weakest Chief Minister" the state ever had and a "betrayer" of people.

He reiterated his party's demand for a CBI probe into illegal mining and iron ore export and warned that the state will not survive if such activities are not checked or those involved punished.

Siddaramaiah, who accepted the Reddy brothers challenge in in the assembly on July 9, daring him to step on their home turf, today said he was accepting another challenge from Janardhana Reddy to contest in one of the assembly constituencies of Bellary.
"Let Reddy's influence Yeddyurappa to dissolve the state assembly. I will accept the challenge and contest against Janardhana Reddy in Bellary", he said.

Siddaramaiah said Congress is not only fighting against illegal mining, but also the BJP government's 'betrayal' of people on various promises, including distribution of 25 kg rice to poor and others.