The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Congress leaders not to assist Bhat panel

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Wednesday, Nov 08, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Congress leaders not to assist Bhat panel

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly N. Dharam Singh and other senior leaders of the party have decided not to assist the U.L. Bhat Commission, which is conducting an inquiry into the alleged irregularities and corruption in mining activities in the State.

In a statement to the commission, Mr. Kharge, Mr. Dharam Singh, and R.V. Deshpande, K.R. Ramesh Kumar, and D.K. Shivakumar, MLAs, and K.C. Kondaiah and V.S. Ugrappa, MLCs, have said that they will not participate in proceedings of the commission.

Notice

The commission has issued notice to some Congress leaders on September 5 asking them to furnish their statements relating to the alleged irregularities in mining in the State.

CBI probe

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Mr. Ugrappa said the party had been insisting on an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into illegal mining. The judicial commission would only submit a factual report and it was left to the Government to accept it. It had no powers to prosecute the accused, he added.

The statement filed before the commission by Congress leaders stated that the commission would not be independent as it would not be in a position to function without the aid of the Government machinery.

"The follow-up action depends more on political considerations rather than for public good and that the commission do not suitably serve the object of punishing the guilty," the statement said.

The Congress Legislature Party passed a resolution at a meeting on October 12 deciding not to participate in the proceedings of the commission.

Memoranda

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has submitted memoranda to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Governor T.N. Chaturvedi seeking an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the issue.

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