Lokayukta to probe illegal mining under BJP rule

The Yeddyurappa government’s move comes even as the Opposition is seeking a CBI probe citing the involvement of the Reddy brothers,ministers in the BJP government,in the illegal export of iron ore. The move is also being seen as an effort to checkmate Opposition plans for protests demanding the resignation of the Reddy brothers and that of CM B S Yeddyurappa who holds the Mines and Forests portfolio.

Karnataka’s Governor H R Bharadwaj has also been asking the BJP government to drop ministers alleged to be involved in illegal mining.

The probe initially covered the period from January 2000 to July 2006 but was subsequently given the mandate to probe the period till September 2008. In its first report on illegal mining submitted to the BJP government in December,2008,the Karnataka Lokayukta detailed the commissions and omissions of the Congress government under S M Krishna,the Congress-JDS government under Dharam Singh and the JDS-BJP government under H D Kumaraswamy.

The first report indicted several officials including former Congress CM Dharam Singh but former governor Rameshwar Thakur sought to get Singh’s name deleted from it. A second report from this period is likely to be given to the government by the Lokayukta over the next few months.

With its scope extended the Lokayukta will now probe the illegalities that have occurred since the BJP government came to power in June 2008.

The question of who should take forward the illegal iron ore mining probe has led to a deadlock. While the Opposition claims the CBI should carry it out since FERA and money laundering issues are involved,the BJP government has said that the Opposition is trying to cover its own tracks with a CBI probe.

Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde has been of the view that his institution is adequately equipped to probe the issue.