Karnataka minister quits over mining charges

Karnataka minister Santosh Lad late Friday resigned from the Siddaramaiah-led Congress ministry in face of charges that his firm was involved in illegal mining.

"I have tendered my resignation to the chief minister (Siddaramaiah) in view of the allegations of illegal mining against me and my company and to avoid any embarrassment to the government," Lad told reporters here.

Holding independent charge, the 34-year-old Lad was minister for infrastructure development, information & broadcasting and Kannada and culture.

"Though there was no pressure from the CM or my party, I have resigned because I don't want my party (Congress) to be embarrassed further. I am open to investigations and am sure I will be proved innocent after the investigations," Lad asserted.

Lad is the first minister to quit over six months after the Congress returned to power following its victory in the state legislative assembly elections in May.

The resignation comes ahead of the winter session of the state legislature from Nov 25 at Belgaum in the northern region of the state, amid mounting pressure from the opposition parties - the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Janata Dal-Secular and the Karnataka Janata Party, headed by former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.