Keep tainted out of govt: Hiremath

Continuing his crusade against corruption, founder president of Samaj Parivartan Samudaya S R Hiremath on Sunday urged the state government to initiate criminal proceedings against D K Shivakumar and others who he alleged were 'tainted' by the illegal mining cases.

He told reporters that some people who were engaged in illegal mining and land grabbing were in the government and one cannot expect good governance from such elected representatives. The chief minister should keep out such tainted legislators and ministers out of the government and take action against them, Hiremath asserted.

He alleged that D K Shivakumar had siphoned off 1.08 million tonnes of high quality ore and also demanded probe into the deal. Hiremath said, the ongoing legislature session at Belgaum should discuss issues of corruption, illegal mining and land grabbing and hand over the probe into the issues to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The people of the state should raise their voice against illegal activities and bring pressure on the government to take action against the guilty, he said.

Raghavendra Kustagi of Jana Sangrama Parishat said, a convention to create awareness about democracy and voters' awareness will be organised in Bangalore on December 22 and December 23. Justice M N Venkatachala, Santosh Hegde, S P Shukla, advocate Prashant Bhushan and others will participate in the programme, he said.