The mining controversy, which had threatened to split the fragile Janata Dal (S)-BJP coalition government, has been put to rest for the time being with the intervention of BJP president Rajnath Singh. | |
| On Monday night after the BJP legislature party meeting, deputy chief minister B S Yediyurappa apprised Singh of the developments on the controversy. |
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| Last week, BJP legislator Janardhana Reddy and his brother Karunakara Reddy (Bellary MP) had accused Kumaraswamy of accepting a bribe from some owners of mines to transfer Bellary district superintendent of police Pankaj Kumar Thakur, who was investigating the illegal mining. |
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| Yediyurappa reportedly told Singh that the allegation made by the Reddy brothers (both mine owners) had turned into a major controversy causing much embarrassment to the government. |
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| Despite several warnings, the Reddy brothers had refused to withdraw the allegation. The state BJP leaders' failure to rein in the Reddy brothers had upset the JD(S) camp. |
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| According to highly-placed sources, Rajnath Singh spoke to the Reddy brothers over phone and worked out a "compromise formula". |
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| The sources said the Reddy brothers are scheduled to meet Kumaraswamy on Wednesday to withdraw the allegation. |
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| Even the ongoing legislature session has been hit by the controversy with the opposition Congress stalling the proceedings for three days in succession seeking a CBI inquiry into the allegation. |
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