Bangalore, December 17
After a brief lull, Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj was on Friday back to his old game-of needling the BJP-led government in the state. Bhardwaj today told reporters here that the state government has “failed” to check illegal mining and demanded that Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa reply to his recent letters on illegal mining and alleged land scams.

“Illegal mining is still continuing. No action is taken by the government here”, Bhardwaj, who wrote to Yeddyurappa two days ago seeking a report on the issue, told reporters. Bhardwaj, who has forwarded to the Election Commission of India (ECI) a petition seeking disqualification from the legislature of mining magnates and cabinet ministers Janardhana Reddy, Karunakara Reddy and Sriramulu, expressed happiness over the Andhra Pradesh High Court vacating a stay on the CBI probe into allegations of illegal mining in Andhra Pradesh by the Obalapuram Mining Company (owned by the Reddy brothers of Karnataka). Bhardwaj described the step by the court as a “good development”.

Bhardwaj said no action had been taken in Karnataka to check illegal mining. He said he had sought reports on illegal mining issue on earlier occasions too, but the government did not respond. “It is my duty to protect the state’s interest. I have written several letters to the state government on various issues. I am also sending reports every month to the Centre on the happenings in the state”, Bhardwaj said.“As a Governor I have to check whether what is appearing in the media is correct and if it is correct, I must get a report. I have a right under the Constitution”, he said to justify his latest letters to Yeddyurappa.

Yeddyurappa, who was touring Gadag today, told reporters that his office had received two letters from the Governor and he would reply to them in two days time. Bharadwaj’s comments were quickly condemned by the BJP with its state unit BJP President K S Eswarappa alleging, “The Governor is behaving like an Opposition leader.”