Cong stages dharna in K'taka Council

Bangalore, Mar 27 (UNI) Members of the Opposition Congress today staged a dharna in the Karnataka Legislative Council, demanding that a CBI inquiry be ordered into the illegal mining activities in the State and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who also holds the Mines and Geology portfolio, personally reply to the House instead of sending written statements.

During a discussion on the report of Forests Minister C Chennigappa highlighting the menace, which was tabled in the House today following members' demand earlier in the week, the Opposition members did not allow Mr Chennigappa to read out the Chief Minister's written statement and demanded that Mr Kumaraswamy personally come to the House to reply.

Leader of the Opposition in the Council H K Patil said the members wanted some clarifications on the issue, involving the daily looting of iron ore worth crores of Rupees by mine owners from Bellary district.

Mr V S Ugrappa (Congress) said the Forests Minister was a complainant in the issue as he had highlighted the menace to the Chief Minister in his report on illegal mining, dated March six.

The Opposition members also wanted to know what action the Government had taken to stop illegal mining, with 20 days having passed since the issue was reported.

Dissatisfied with the reply given by Floor Leader and Higher Secondary Education Minister D H Shankaramurthy that any Minister could read out the Chief Minister's statement, the Opposition members staged a dharna. They were joined by two JD(U) members, demanding a CBI inquiry into the issue.

Soon after, Council Chairman V R Sudarshan adjourned the House.

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