Upping the ante against the “mining mafia” in the state, Karnataka governor H.R. Bhardwaj sought the appointment of the Chief Justice to the state on a priority basis as the incumbent P.D. Dinakaran is all set to be moved to another place. The issue was raised by him when he called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and home minister P. Chidambaram.
The governor, according to sources, took up the issue of the Lokayukta in the state with Mr Chidambaram. The resignation of Mr Santosh Hegde and his subsequent withdrawal figured prominently in his talks with Mr Chidambaram.
Mr Bhardwaj is learnt to have apprised the Prime Minister about the prevailing situation in the state. According to sources, he has said that “goonda raj” exists all over the state. It’s being said that without naming the CBI, he has asked the Union government to use appropriate fora to fix the rot in Karnataka. He is understood to have asked the Central government to take the views of chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on the matter. He has asked the Prime Minister to look into the issue of mining activity and ensure that loot doesn’t recur again in the country.
Mr Bhardwaj is very particular about the removal of the Reddy brothers from the state Cabinet, even as he spoke to Mr Yeddyurappa and directed him to break the deadlock over the impasse in the state legislature.
Meanwhile, the BJP core group discussed the party’s future strategy to counter the charges of Karnataka governor H.R. Bhardwaj on the issue of illegal mining and corruption against the B.S. Yeddyurappa government in the state. The party alleged that Congress was trying to destablise the state government.
“In Karnataka, the Congress after losing the mandate, is trying to destablise the popular government of Yeddyurappa. But these machinations will not bear any fruit,” Mr Ananth Kumar said.
The BJP leader said Karnataka governor was making statements and indulging in activities beyond the purview of his constitutional powers.
“A governor should not be acting in tandem with any political party, more so the Congress. We hope the President will take cognisance of the matter and give suitable advise to him,” Mr Kumar said.
Sources in the BJP disclosed that the party is in favour of an inquiry by the Lokayukta or any authority at the state level but is wary of the CBI getting involved. BJP central leadership has decided to launch a counter-attack on the Congress and also take on the Governor, sources said.