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Rumble over mining brothers hits Delhi
K’taka Governor meets Prez, wants Reddys to be removed from ministry; BJP slams
Faraz Ahmad
Tribune News Service

The Reddys Janardhana Reddy and Karunakara Reddy are powerful ministers in the Karnataka government and are accused of being in the business of illegal mining.

The Issue The Opposition (Congress and JD-S) in Karnataka is gunning for Reddys. In Bangalore, both the Houses remained paralysed for the second day on Tuesday with the Opposition continuing its protests in support of their demand for a CBI inquiry into the “illegal mining” issue.

New Delhi, July 13
The tussle between the ruling BJP and the Opposition (the Congress and the JD-S) in Karnataka over Reddy brothers — both ministers in the Yeddyurappa government and accused of illegal mining — reached the Capital today, with Governor HR Bhardwaj meeting President Pratibha Patil.

Bhardwaj, while talking to reporters after the meeting, asked for removal of the controversial Reddy brothers from the state ministry on allegations of illegal mining.

The Governor said he has asked the Chief Minister to take action against the two ministers, who are also known as Bellary Brothers. “He (Chief Minister) is a person who realises the problem. I told him you have appointed them as ministers. Take action against them. He says I need time. He doesn’t say it is not not happening,” the Governor said.

He said he has taken serious note of the issue and has told the Chief Minister of his concern and to the Central government.

“It is whether ministers can indulge in this kind of corrupt practices. Whether they can continue as ministers and will continue to do illegal mining and make profits. It is a big issue of integrity and probity of holders of high office,” he said.

Bhardwaj he said he would meet Home Minister P Chidambaram tomorrow and apprise him of the latest situation. However, he sought to dispel the impression that he had come here to recommend President’s Rule in the state. “There is no law and order problem in the state,” he added.

For the past few days, the issue has rocked the Karnataka legislature. On July 9, the House was adjourned amidst pandemonium after the Congress and JD-S members tried to raise the issue but were allegedly threatened by Reddy brothers — Janardhana Reddy, Karunakara Reddy — and Somashekhara Reddy along with two other MLAs, Suresh Babu and B Nagendra. The Congress alleged that the Reddys also tried to assault its MLAs.

On July 12, the Opposition MLAs arrived in the Assembly wearing mining helmets. Speaker K Bopaiah objected to it. After that, the Congress and JD(S) MLAs came and sat in the Well.

Meanwhile, the issue has escalated into a full-scale war between the Congress and the BJP.

Annoyed over Bhardwaj’s remarks, the BJP dubbed him as a rank agent of the Congress. “Bhardwaj should decide once and for all is he holding a Constitutional post or he is a rank agent of Congress party…we will demand from the President of India -please check your Governor,” BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said while talking to mediapersons in Bangalore.

On the other hand, Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari said Yeddyurappa would be unable to take action against Reddy brothers given their linkages with the top BJP leadership.

“Unfortunately the pernicious writ of the Reddy brothers runs very deep into the vitals of the BJP. Their linkages extend right to the top of the BJP,” he said.