Gowda seeks PM's help to checkmate 'mining mafia'

JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda today alleged the situation in Karnataka, especially in Bellary District where ‘mining mafia’ was ‘ruling the roost’ pointed to ‘complete breakdown of constitutional machinery’ and sought the Centre’s intervention to ensure rule of law prevailed.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Gowda allleged there was “no semblance of rule of law especially in Bellary district” and the BJP government was not only a “mute spectator but fully complicit and partner in the crime” (of illegal mining). Gowda requested Singh to ask the Governor to submit a report on the situation “which has all ingredients and manifestations of the breakdown constitutional machinery to invoke appropriate constitutional mechanism to ensure rule of law prevails in state.”

Gowda targeted tourism minister Janardhana Reddy and his brother and revenue minister Karunakara Reddy, who are under the scanner of the Supreme Court for the alleged illegal mining in Bellary district and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

Gowda’s letter, copies of which were released at a press conference, came days after the owner of a private mine, on whose petition the apex court stayed operati-ons by the Reddy brothers-owned Obulapuram Mining Company, and his two brothers were attacked by an unid-entified gang here.

He said the State Human Rights Commission’s order and Lokayukta report along with recent attack on Tapal Ganesh, owner of T M R Mining company for assisting Survey of India team to conduct survey of OMC mining area provided “sufficient material to invoke Constitutional mechanism”.

In a similar letter addressed to state Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj, the JD(S) leader urged him to “act upon the prevailing situation and exercise his Constitutional responsibility”. On the outcome of the letters, Gowda said, “It is my duty as a former Prime Minister and chief minister to bring such daylight looting of natural resources by the mining mafia which is calling the shots in the state, to their notice. It is for them to take action.”