Karnataka Tourism minister says Congress also involved in Karnataka illegal mining

Bangalore, July 20 (ANI): Retaliating to corruption charges levelled against him, Karnataka's Tourism Minister, G Janardhana Reddy, has said certain Congress leaders are also involved in illegal mining activities.

Reddy, named the families of Lad, a federal lawmaker, M Y Ghorpade who owned the Sandur Manganese and Iron Ore Company and H G Ramulu, all of whom are associated with the Congress party.

"The very important thing is the Lad family, one Mr. Anil Lad he is presently Rajya Sabha member, also Santosh Lad he is present MLA from Kalgathagi constituency they are into illegal mining, they were into encroachment, so almost all these Congress leaders like Mr. Ghorpade, Sandur Mines Company, Anil Lad, Santosh Lad, V S Lad company and HGR (H G Ramulu) family's, HGR mining companies. Also Baldotas families and so many people are there, and my statement is based on a Lokayukta report," claimed Reddy.

He revealed that his brothers and he had a humble beginning and asserted that his company has not engaged in Karnataka, but only in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

He also attacked the Governor of Karnataka, Hans Raj Bhardwaj, for being biased in his views on the issues of mining.

"The Governor has exceeded his limits, he says he is no power centre, and even he is accepting that he is a Congress man and whenever our BJP people and all even me say that he is an agent of Congress. Then he is accepting 'Yes, I am a Congressman, I am proud of being a Congressman, I am for Congress'," Reddy said.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning to organise a Padyatra at Bellary in which the Sushma Swaraj, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, would take part.

Meanwhile, state-level Congress leaders have hit out strongly against illegal mining in the state.

"The Chief Minister's comment that the Lokayukta is investigating, all this is sham, throwing sand in the eyes. The state is being looted. An amount of rupees 20,000 crore is involved in this. All this is an eye wash," observed H Siddaramiah, a senior Congress leader.

He revealed plans for holding a mass march to Bellary, coinciding with the 68th anniversary of the Quit India Movement on August 9. (ANI)