Bangalore:
Justice Santosh Hegde, the Lokayukta or ombudsman of Karnataka will soon be submitting a report on rampant illegal mining in the state. The report is expected to name several senior politicians. It is being said that senior BJP leaders, including a minister and the Special Representative in Delhi, Dhananjay Kumar have met Justice Hegde asking him to leave out Chief Minister Yeddyurappa name in his report.
But Dhananjay Kumar has denied he tried to influence the Lokayuka at any point of time. Despite all the controversy, Santosh Hegde has chosen to remain tight-lipped on the report, declaring, "For now it is my word against theirs."
The Opposition on its part is using the alleged pressure from the BJP as a fresh reason to target Chief Minister Yeddyurappa. Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, said, "They met him and they pressurised him not to name Yeddyurappa's misdeeds. For this reason we are demanding Yeddyurappa's resignation immediately."
The Lokayukta has told NDTV that the report would focus on illegal export of iron ore and he was concerned about the safety of his officers working on the sensitive issue. Santosh Hegde said, "Mining is a thing which is quite feared by people working in that area, I do apprehend some problem, so I am seeking some security.They would have stepped on the toes of many politicians."
"There is no political will to stop illegal mining, everybody's finger is in the till," said Mr Hegde.