Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister B S
Yeddyurappa on Saturday ruled out dropping three ministers
including the Reddy brothers, mining magnates whose company
has come under the scanner of Supreme Court for alleged
illegal mining activities.
"I have not reached a situation that calls for dropping of
these ministers", Yeddyurappa, who recently survived
dissidence spearheaded by Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy,
his brother and Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy and their
loyalist Health Minister B Sreeramulu, told reporters here.
The three ministers from Bellary district had led the
rebels seeking removal of Yeddyurappa but BJP central
leadership worked out a compromise formula between the
warring factions to end the two-week-long turmoil.
The Obulapuram Mining Corporation (OMC) owned by the trio
from mine-rich Bellary has come on the radar of the Central
Empowered Committee (CEC) of Supreme Court which has submitted
a report on illegal mining activities.
The CEC had submitted the report on the orders of the
apex court to inquire into the matter on a writ petition filed
against OMC over the illegal activity in violation of the
Forest Conservation Act.
Yeddyurappa sidestepped all queries about Andhra Pradesh
government seeking CBI probe into illegal mining activity by
OMC and the CEC report.
"I have learnt about it (CEC report) through the press. I
have not seen the copy. I will come to back to you", he said.
Prominent party leaders would discuss these developments
shortly, he said, but did not indicate whether Reddy brothers
would also be involved in it.
"We are concentrating on development," Yeddyurappa said
when asked how he could allow the three ministers to continue
in the wake of the CBI probe.
He said the government has sought legal opinion on levying
Rs 1,000 cess per load of iron ore and sand, a decision that
had triggered the crisis as Bellary ministers had opposed it
on the ground that it would affect their business.
"We are dicussing it. A final decision will emerge soon",
Yeddyurappa, who yesterday indicated that there would be
a rethink on going ahead with the levy, said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 17:37