Bangalore: CM Yeddyurappa, reacting to a report submitted by a high level committee (CEC) (which had appointed it) that in the entire country, Karnataka handled the most part of illegal (iron ore) mining done between 2003 and 2009, exclaimed that now we know who was responsible for providing a license for illegal ore-mining in Karnataka and that it was during the Congress and JD_ ruling years, that all such illegal transactions had taken place, he clarified.
Having told govt. officials to keep a strict hold over all kinds of illegal mining in the state presently, on he turned to media persons and made his observations. He told them that he had provided CEC all facts and figures on illegal mining activities, by banning all such ore exports from state ports.
However illegal iron ore mining had to be stopped both by the centre and the state as they are duty bound together, he quipped.
In the process, he specified that there was no mining activity handled by his Bellary group of ministers.
He denied that Reddy brothers and Sri Ramulu had any mines in their names to do mining within the state. But he added that the Reddys were carrying on mining in Andhra Pradesh, across the borders. In Karnataka, they have just sought permission to start a steel plant in Bellary, CM informed.
It was not after Yeddyurappa became CM, but during the rule of Congress and JDS by agreement and by turns earlier that illegal mining was licensed. One feels happy that truth is coming out now, when the Supreme Court was conducting an enquiry into the matter. Without the Central backing, such illegal activities could not have been possible here.
He asked why the Centre had not bothered to taker action earlier, in so many years when illegal mining was taking place regularly.
CM said he was bound by whatever CEC asks the Govt. to do. He also declared that he would take all legal steps without flinching, even against a big person, if there are charges proved against him, however big he may be.