'Politicians in Goa mining scam will be jailed soon'

Politicians accused in Goa's Rs.35,000-crore mining scam will be put behind bars soon unlike fodder scam accused Lalu Prasad who was sentenced after 17 years, state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said Tuesday.

Tendulkar was addressing a press conference at the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters over the delay in action against those responsible for denuding Goa's forests and illegally stripping it of ore.

"We are just 19 months in power. I can assure you that they will not be able to wait for 17 years like Lalu Prasad," Tendulkar said.

A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court Oct 3 sentenced Lalu Prasad, a former chief minister of Bihar and Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo, to five years' imprisonment for his role in the Rs.950-crore fodder scam that came to light in 1996.

The BJP led the fight against illegal mining when it was the main opposition party in Goa but has been accused of having "made up" with the mining lobby after it came to power in March 2012.

The party that once alleged three Congress chief ministers and several cabinet ministers were involved in Goa's mining scam has not named a single individual in a complaint filed with the state vigilance department.

Tendulkar claimed the party would crack down on illegal mining and its promoters. "The government will not spare anyone involved in illegal mining," he said.