Congress decides to boycott Justice Bhat probe on mining issue

Bangalore, Oct 12 (UNI) The congress Karnataka unit today decided not to present its views before the Justice Bhat Commission appointed to look into the corruption aspects of the mining issue allegedly involving Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his ministerial colleagues.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, the Legislature wing leader N Dharam Singh, accompanied by State party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Opposition leader in the Legislative Council H K Patil, said that there was no change in the stand taken earlier with regard to the issue. He reiterated the demand for an inquiry by Central Bureau of Investigation to unearth the truth. The meeting also passed a resolution unanimously in this regard, he added.

On recent disturbances in Mangalore City and rural areas in which two people were killed in violence, he said the party's demand was for a judicial probe. It was unfortunate that the government had remained a mute spectator even after the normal life was thrown out of gear, he remarked adding that the administrative machinery had totally collapsed in the State.

He also took exception to the remarks made by former Union Minister George Fernandes on the President APJ Abdul Kalam and Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi in connection with the purchase of defence equipment from Israel and said it was unwarranted.

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