New Delhi: Opposition BJP today turned
down demands for a CBI inquiry into illegal iron ore mining in
the party-ruled Karnataka dubbing the central investigative
agency as "Congress Bureau of Investigation".
"We can`t allow that (CBI investigation)...we are
ready for any other investigation," BJP leader Ananth Kumar
said in the Lok Sabha while participating in short-duration
discussion on illegal mining in states.
Describing the country`s premier investigating agency
CBI as "Congress Bureau of Investigation", Kumar claimed it
was acting at the behest of Congress to "settle political
scores whether it is Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh or against Lalu
Prasad".
"Congress can`t use it (CBI) for partisan and
political purposes. (But) They are doing it," he added.
He was replying to the demands by Congress member
Bhakta Charan Das and CPI-M leader Basudeb Acharia to order a
CBI probe into illegal mining of iron ore in Karnataka that
runs into thousands of crores.
The central government should ban export of iron ore
and disallow mining unless it was undertaken for producing
value added products like steel, he said, adding the Karnataka
Government had already banned its exports.
The discussion was marked by acrimony when Kumar
alleged that former state Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy(JD-S)
recommended iron ore lease to various businessmen after his
government lost majority in Karnataka assembly.
Kumaraswamy responded by saying he would quit politics
if it was established that his government approved it after
losing majority.
Initiating the discussion, Acharia demanded
nationalisation of iron ore mines in the country to prevent
"loot and plunder of the wealth of the country."
Making a strong case for CBI inquiry into illegal
mining in Karnataka, he said, "I do not know why Karnataka
government is objecting to the inquiry."
Participating in the debate, Das said the illegal iron
ore mining scam must be worth over Rs 10,000 crore.
He further said that Karnataka and Orissa governments
should recommend to the centre to institute CBI inquiry into
the illegal mining scam.
About the inquiry commission constituted by the
Central government for illegal mining, H D Devegowda (JD-S) said, "The commission of inquiry is useless and eyewash."
Devegowda demanded a probe by joint parliamentary
committee into the illegal mining in the country.
Expressing concerns over illegal mining in the country
Shailendra Kumar (SP) brought the house`s attention towards
sand mining mafia active in Uttar Pradesh and demanded action
against the guilty of looting nation`s natural resources.
Bali Ram (BSP) and Kakoli Ghosh (AITC) also
participated in the discussion.
PTI
