"He (Janardhana Reddy) has changed boundaries between the
states. He has changed the mining boundaries. Illegal mining
is happening there. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Central
Governments have not taken any action so far," Telugu Desam
Chief N Chandrababu Naidu told reporters after meeting
Rosaiah.
He was accompanied by CPI(M) state secretary B V
Raghavulu, CPI state secretary K Narayana and Lok Satta Party
president and MLA N Jayaprakash Narayan. The parties have
decided to wage a joint fight against the alleged illegal
mining by the Karnataka minister.
Naidu demanded that the "illegal iron ore mining" in
Anantapur district of Andhra by Obulapuram Mining Company, the
firm owned by Janardhana Reddy, be halted immediately.
"Chief Minister K Rosaiah is not taking any action. He
says he will study the matter. How many years does it take?",
he asked.
Meanwhile Janardhana Reddy dismissed the allegations and
said he is ready to face probe into the charges.
The BJP leader said he would quit politics and also stop
his business activities if Naidu proved even a single
allegation against him.
Narayan demanded that the government cancel the existing
mining leases and award fresh lease through competitive
international bidding.
Taking the lead, main opposition Telugu Desam roped in
the CPI, CPI(M) and Lok Satta in the fight against the
Karnataka minister's alleged illegal mining.
The TDP held an all-party meeting to prepare a plan of
action over the matter. However, Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam,
TRS and BJP stayed away from the meeting.
The TDP, CPI, CPI(M) and Lok Satta decided to meet the
Chief Minister and Governor initially and take the fight to
Delhi at a later stage.
Responding to the Opposition demand, Chief Minister K
Rosaiah today said his government would act in an impartial
manner without bowing to any pressure.
A release from the Chief Minister's Office quoted
Rosaiah as saying that the state government would act in a
"transparent and impartial" manner.
Three review meetings have been held even before the
opposition parties submitted their memorandum today, the
release said.
"The state government has no intention to save anybody.
The government would act as per law," it quoted him as
saying.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, November 15, 2009, 22:21