Gowda seeks PM’s intervention against ‘mining mafia’

Gowda requested Singh to ask the Governor to submit a report on the situation and “to invoke appropriate constitutional mechanism to ensure rule of law prevails in state”.

Gowda targeted Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy and his brother and Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy,who are under the scanner of the Supreme Court for alleged illegal mining in Bellary district and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Gowda’s letter,copies of which were released at a press conference,came days after the owner of a private mine,on whose petition the apex court stayed operations by the Reddy brothers owned Obulapuram Mining Company,and his two brothers were attacked by an unidentified gang here.

The State Human Rights Commission’s order and Lokayukta report along with recent attack on the owner of TMR Mining company Tapal Ganesh for assisting Survey of India team to conduct survey of OMC mining area provided “sufficient material to invoke Constitutional mechanism”,Gowda said.

In a similar letter addressed to state Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj,the JDS leader urged him to “act upon the prevailing situation and exercise his Constitutional responsibility”.

“It is my duty as a former Prime Minister and Chief Minister to bring such daylight looting of natural resources by the mining mafia which is calling the shots in the state,to their notice. It is for them to take action,” he said.