K'tka govt raises questions on Lokayukta's illegal mining report

The Karnataka cabinet has raised certain questions regarding the Lokayukta report on illegal mining. The cabinet is supposed to file an action take report before the Lokayukta.

The cabinet has sought to know some of the sections deployed by the Lokayukta while preparing the report. It would now await the clarifications from the Lokayukta before deciding whether to act on the report or not.

The report on illegal mining submitted in July had created a stir and eventually led to the resignation of B S Yeddyurappa from the chief minister's post.

It had also deprived the influential mining barons turned politicians Reddy brothers of a cabinet berth.

In a related development, the Karnataka cabinet, after nearly a month, on Thursday accepted the resignation of former state tourism minister B Sriramulu.

Sriramulu had cited the appearance of his name in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining while tendering his resignation as the member of the legislative assembly.

He had embarked upon a state tour stating he would seek justice from the people. However, the grapevine was that he had put in his papers in a bid to pressurise the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which had left him out of the cabinet following the mining report.

There was also talk that he had acted at the behest of the Reddy brothers of Bellary who had mooted the idea of floating a separate regional party.

However, these plans were shelved as Janardhan Reddy was picked up by the Central Bureau of Investigation exactly a day after the resignation drama by Sriramulu.