New Delhi, June 07: Tapal Ganesh, mine-owner, has ridiculed the Bharatiya Janata Party for supporting the movement launched by Anna Hazare’s against corruption and Baba Ramdev’s demand to retrieve black money stashed in overseas banks. He said that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had failed to initiate any action against the tainted Ministers in his Cabinet.
“The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government was in power for one full term when it did not make efforts to eradicate corruption and bring back the black money. Now, Mr. Yeddyurappa-led government in the State is accused of corruption, nepotism.
Illegal activities
Several Ministers have been charged with indulging in illegal activities. Still, no steps have been initiated by the senior leaders of the party against the corrupt and tainted Ministers. It is ridiculous that the party is now supporting the movements launched by Anna Hazare and Ramdev,” he said. Referring to the reported statement of veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani that he was unhappy with Mr. Yeddyurappa’s government, Mr. Ganesh expressed the hope that at least now the party will initiate action against the tainted Ministers, put an end to corruption, and curb the illegal mining in the State, in the interest of the public.
About Mr. Yeddyurappa’s criticism of officials for their alleged failure to protect the forest wealth and the unbridled loot of iron ore through illegal mining, Mr. Ganesh said, “I have been raising these issues for quite some time now. I have also filed complaints with the Lokayukta in this regard. However, no measures have been initiated so far to prevent illegal mining and to bring the guilty officials to book.
Mr. Ganesh pointed out that some officials had altered the readings of the global positioning system (GPS) of a mining lease and shifted the boundaries only to favour Tourism Minister G. Janardhan Reddy in he guise of carrying out a survey of the mines that belonged to Tapal Narayan Reddy.
Mr. Ganesh apprehended that an illegal mining scam worth Rs. 1,000 crore might have taken place after a joint survey was carried out in 2008.
Mr. Ganesh also demanded a thorough inquiry into this case. He urged the authorities concerned to bring the guilty to book and recover the cost of mineral ore, already extracted and transported.
–Agencies