Bangalore:
The drama over illegal mining in Karnataka, allegedly involving state ministers-plus-mining-barons Reddy brothers, has seen allegations flying back and forth and the Houses of legislature being brought to a standstill.
Speaking to NDTV's Maya Sharma in Bangalore, one of the key players in this controversy, Governor HR Bhardwaj, has said he would have got the Reddy brothers removed from the cabinet if he had the powers.
The Governor has already referred to Election Commission a complaint against Reddy brothers - G Janardhana Reddy and G Karunakara Reddy - seeking their disqualification as MLAs on the ground that they were holding office of profit.
His outspoken comments about the "loot of state resources" and corrupt ministers in the Karnataka cabinet raised the hackles of the BJP government in the state.
NDTV: What kind of action would you recommend - the removal of the Reddy brothers from the cabinet?
Bhardwaj: Well that is not my power. If I had the powers I (would) have done it already. The CM has the power to recommend removal or appointment of minister and once he is cognizant, I cannot precipitate removal or appointment. It is their prerogative. He is the leader of their legislative party and whatever he recommends, he does but as a Governor, I have to tell him that this is a matter of concern. You let me know what action have you taken...the Right to Information of a Governor is constitutionally required and recognized.
I feel personally this is a very serious matter which the country as a whole must consider...that such ministers who swindle away crores of rupees and threaten their own citizens...is a very serious matter...anybody may like may not like...I don't like.
NDTV: Did you expect this extent of a reaction on your remarks on curbing illegal mining?
Bhardwaj: Powerful NGOs from Karnataka state approached the Raj Bhawan and they pointed out that they should use constitutional powers and stop the theft of the revenues in Karnataka and large scale violation of human rights in these areas of Bellary and Raichur, Sandud and adjoining Andhra so I said yes and I have been in the correspondence with the government for a long time. They are on record and the CM assured me that yes he is cognizant and will take action. But nothing happened and then they continued. So I had informed the President of India, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister about all these things. I had to pursue it so I wrote letters. Now whatever happened in the Assembly is between the political parties.
Meanwhile, under mounting pressure to take action against illegal mining and sack the Reddy brothers from his cabinet, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa is busy firefighting in New Delhi. He met Home Minister P Chidamabaram today and has also set up a meeting with the Prime Minister as well as the top BJP leadership.
The CM is said to have briefed Chidambaram on the situation in the state and discussed the issue of illegal mining. After the meeting, Yeddyurappa said, "I will drop ministers if charges of corruption are proved." He added that stopping iron ore export was the only way to end illegal mining.
NDTV has learnt that Yeddyurappa plans to tell the PM that the Lokayukta's probe is enough and there was no need for a CBI probe. He's also expected to counter the Governor's charge that the state has come under a jungle raj.
On Friday, Yeddyurappa called on Governor Bhardwaj and conveyed the government's stand against a CBI inquiry into the illegal mining scam at this stage.
Sticking to his government stand of not referring the illegal mining issue to CBI investigation, Yeddyurappa said he had told the Governor "now it is not proper to entrust the matter to CBI probe. If we do it now, it would further delay the enquiry process."