Karnataka Minister Janardhan Reddy to stop digging for money

Bangalore, Mar 16: After major power struggles and bargaining with political bigwigs, Janardhan Reddy, the Minister for Tourism will kiss the mining industry good bye. The fact was revealed when he himself openly declared that he wanted to give up his life as an entrepreneur for good.

The news will act as a major deterrent to his image as a mining magnate who slowly grabbed power through his flourishing mining industry and entered the corridors of Karnataka government.

He said in a statement that he was moved by a speech made by the JD (S) leader M C Nanaiah on the iron ore issue and was reacting on the debate for the ban on the same and commented, “I am impressed by the life of Nanaiah, a veteran politician, and wish to express that henceforth, I will lead the life of only a public servant. I will renounce my life as a businessman and industrialist."

The cabinet-ranked minister from Bellary has time and again been charged with exploiting nature's riches and faced the wrath of the Opposition for long for furthering his clout in the state governance. He also accused K C Kondaiah, an Opposition leader for his actions that led to the closure of a steel plant and one another industry in his hometown and said on this regard, “The company in question was shutdown recently and auctioned in the last few weeks. The person behind its closure was Kondaiah who is speaking on iron ore mining. The company was supposed to be taken over by Jindal and revived. But due to the interference, Jindals are now in a tussle with another steel company for the same firm."

It has to be remembered that the very same Janardhan Reddy had favoured Jindal Steels focussing on their good deeds towards society that also included taking over 27 parks in his home ground Bellary for development.

Reddy had already entered the bad books of the judiciary when a Centrally Empowered Committee (CEC) set up by the Supreme Court had earlier found that six mining companies, including Obalapuram Mining Company (OMC) run by the Reddy family had been proved to be running illegally and recommended that the licenses be canceled immediately.

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