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Rediff.com  » News » Karntaka illegal mining: Lokayukta report likely to be explosive

Karntaka illegal mining: Lokayukta report likely to be explosive

By Vicky Nanjappa
July 20, 2011 14:50 IST
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Karnataka has been quiet for a while since political tempers have temporarily cooled. However, the realease of the second report on illegal mining things may hot up again.

Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde, who is expected to release this report anytime now, is tightlipped on the date, but hinted that it would be out soon.

There is a lot of political activity even before the report has been released. The opposition has already trained its guns on the Bharatiya Janata Party government, which they feel is the culprit behind the multi-crore scandal.

The report is likely to bring the Reddy brothers of Bellary -- state Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy -- who have been time and again accused of carrying out illegal mining activities in the state, in the limelight again.

However, sources now indicate that the report would be more of a leveller rather than curse for the BJP government, which has faced nothing but problems ever since it came to power nearly three years ago.

A source said that the report is not going to single out a particular political party, since most parties which have been in power have been notorious for allowing illegal mining.

However, the biggest embarrassment will be for the BJP, and a section of the opposition is likely to demand that its government in the state steps down.

Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy is already seeking imposition of President's Rule in the state.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has however decided to take a break from politics and has left for Mauratius on a week-long holiday. While his close aides maintain that the CM needed a break, others however view it as a tactic to avoid the storm which the report is likely to cause.

Meanwhile, there is also another controversy that surrounds this report, with senior BJP leader Dhananjaya Kumar allegedly trying to get the Lokayukta to leave the CM out of the report.

Hegde is adamant that will not reveal anything about the report. He however adds that there has been no political will to stop illegal mining.

"You will get to know the rest when the report is released," he added.
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Vicky Nanjappa in Bengaluru
 
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