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Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Saturday virtually ruled out the removal of Reddy brothers from his ministry for the present, saying such a step could be considered if charges are proved.
"There are no charges against any minister. But if there are charges, I am going to remove them within 24 hours," he told reporters after a meeting with Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi.
He was asked if he would follow the example of senior BJP leader L K Advani, who quit Parliament in the early 90s when allegations were made against him in the hawala scandal, and ask his ministers to quit.
He said the opposition Congress-Janata Dal-Secular campaign against the Reddy brothers -- Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister G Karunakaran Reddy -- was born out of political enmity.
To a question why his government was fighting shy of instituting a CBI inquiry into the illegal mining issue, Yeddyurappa said the institution of Lokayukta has been given "all the powers" and it can take the help of Central government and any state government and even Central agencies.
"He is investigating the mining issue. As early as possible, we are going to refer all cases starting from 2002. Soon truth will come out and whoever is culprit, we will punish them," he said.
On his meeting with Chidambaram, he said he discussed the issues of illegal mining, resignation of Lokayukta Santosh Hegde and its subsequent withdrawal, law and order situation and the current Belgaum row.
The chief minister said the only way to stop illegal mining would be to stop iron ore exports and allow only value-added industry. There was no other way, he said, adding he has conveyed this to the Central government.
Yeddyurappa said he has also told the home minister that the Karnataka government has appointed a 'upa-Lokayaukta' and invited Chidamabaram to inaugurate the building of the office of the Lokayaukta.
Sources said the chief minister is understood to have said that there was no need for a CBI probe into the issue since Lokayukta was inquiring into it.
Karnataka is witnessing a raging controversy over illegal mining activities allegedly by the Bellary brothers.
Governor H R Bhardwaj has sought their removal, prompting the BJP to hit back at him and term him a Congress "agent". The state assembly also saw a three-day siege by opposition MLAs demanding action against those engaged in illegal mining.
Hegde had quit his post earlier complaining of con-cooperation from the government in the fight against corruption but relented after a request by Advani.