Karnataka - Bangalore   

Mining: Congress firm on CBI probe

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: The Congress on Wednesday repeated its plea for a probe by the CBI into the iron ore scam in the State.

Leader of the Opposition N. Dharam Singh and the party leader R.V. Deshpande said that if the truth pertaining to the ramifications of the scam had to come out then it was imperative for the Government to opt for a probe by the CBI.

Referring the scam to the Lokayukta for an investigation would not serve any purpose given the nature of control the Government had over the institution.

The Opposition sought to move an adjournment motion into the iron ore scam with particular reference to the Government turning down an extension to the U.L. Bhat Commission, which was constituted in July last to investigate the scam and submit a report to the Government within six months.

Even as the Government was contemplating to wind up the commission, Mr. Bhat resigned and the Government thereafter handed over the investigation to the Lokayukta.

After the preliminary submission by Mr. Dharam Singh, Speaker Krishna permitted a detailed discussion on the iron ore scam. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy hit out at the Opposition on the repeated allegations levelled against him and said bereft of any evidence whatsoever, it was improper and unethical on the part of the Congress to make the charge.

The Government was ready to provide all details in its reply at the end of the debate. The Government had no other choice but to wind up the Bhat Commission since it did not evoke much response.

Mr. Dharam Singh said the bribery allegation against the Chief Minister and two of his colleagues was not levelled by the Congress but by BJP legislator G. Janardhan Reddy.

To this, the chief Minister replied that the Government was aware of the people behind Mr. Reddy and that they would all be exposed at an appropriate time.

Both Mr. Dharam Singh and Mr. Deshpande said the Government had wound up the Bhat commission out of fear that its misdeeds would be exposed.

The two said the Government should place all the correspondence between the Bhat commission and the Government in the Assembly.

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