Illegal mining: Yeddyurappa hits back at Congress-JD(S)

Bangalore, May 2: Rebutting Congress-JDS charge against his government over illegal mining, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today (May 2) hit back at them saying it was these parties which were responsible for the plundering of iron ores in the state.

"Congress and JDS are the legal heirs of illegal mining. It is they who promoted and ensured that it flourished. It is my government that checked the illegal mining in the state", he told reporters here.

Yeddyurappa reiterated that he would soon release in New Delhi a "chargesheet" outlining the role of Congress and JDS in illegal mining.

Several files in connection with the "irregularities" committed during Congress and JDS rule had been missing and the BJP Government had identified officials involved in it, he said.

"We are in the process of slapping notices on those officials who were found responsible for missing files", Yeddyurappa said.

He lambasted former prime minister H D Devegowda for his upcoming "Jatha" against BJP Government planned from May 6 and remarked "Let them agitate. It will only help BJP".

He said when allegations of nepotism were hurled at him after he allotted site and land to his family members, the properties were returned to the allotting agency.

"Has Devegowda and his family members emulated the gesture and returned the sites or land? Yeddyurappa questioned the JDS leaders.

Congress leaders in the state had turned "desperate" and had been making wild allegations against the government, Yeddyurappa charged.

PTI