Conflicting issues complicate K'taka standoff

Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa speaks to Karnataka Home Minister Dr V S Acharya, former minister and opposition Janata Dal-Secular leader M C Nanaiah, and state Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde to gauge the various conflicts that are complicating the ongoing political crisis in the state, and presents a comparative report.

Even as the standoff continues in the Karnataka legislative assembly, there are two debates that are currently on in the corridors of power in the state.

A: Is a Central Bureau of Investigation probe needed to investigate the illegal mining scandal?

B: Is Governor H R Bharadwaj extending his brief, considering that there is no constitutional breakdown in the state.

Acharya basically echoed the stand of  Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, and told rediff.com that there is no need for a CBI probe. But M C Nanaiah said this is an inter-state racket, and will need probing by a central agency.

Justice Hegde, too, said, "Let us set our own house in order, since the illegal ore is generated here, lets think of what is happening outside the state later."

'The Karnataka govt will never recommend a CBI probe'

Acharya said, "The demand for a CBI probe is baseless. What is the need of roping in the CBI when our lokayukta is undertaking a fair probe? I know the Opposition is hell bent upon handing over the mining probe to the CBI, but the government has no such proposal."

"What is the need for the CBI when the lokayukta has the entire account with him? He has the inflow or ore into the ports and also amount that has been exported. The government will act on this, and hence, I don't see any need for a CBI probe and under no cost will the government recommend this," he added

'This scam has inter-state ramifications'

Nanaiah had a different viewpoint. He said, "The reason why the Opposition is hell bent on a CBI probe is because this scam has inter-state ramifications. The lokayukta has no jurisdiction outside the state, and unless that is investigated, the real picture will never come out. This is the biggest scam the country has ever seen and as per our sources, it could be well over Rs 12,000 crore, which is much more than what has been claimed."

"I agree that there is a lokayukta probe, and at no point are we saying that it is a biased one. Let the CBI be roped in and the lokayukta probe will be used to help the CBI," Nainah added.

'It won't be fair to jump to conclusions on the Reddy brothers'

Acharya further said, "Yes, the Opposition and the government are demanding their (Karnataka ministers and Bellary mines baron G Janardana Reddy and G Karunakara Reddy) dismissal. But we have no proposal to act. One cannot just jump to conclusions, and it is not fair to do so."

'CM must ensure that Reddy brothers step down'

Nainah, on the other hand, argued, "The Reddy brothers and their henchmen have looted the state. They have illegally excavated ore and sold it outside. Why is the BJP scared to admit this? The sources have to be tracked."

"Moreover, these people have the audacity to threaten the legislators. Is it right to have such ministers in the Cabinet? We all know who the kingpin of the mining scam is. They have to step down and the CM has to take steps to ensure that it happens," Nainah said.

'Why is Governor Bharadwaj acting so hyperactive?'

On Bharadwaj, Acharya said, "I have no idea why he is acting so hyperactive. It is not right what he is doing, especially when the government has promised action. I don't want to say anything more, and let the people of Karnataka judge the behaviour of the governor for themselves.

"What I would say is that he has no role or locus standi to act in such a manner, since there is no constitutional break down in the state. His role comes only when there is such a break down," Acharya added.

'What's hyperactive in appraising the President?'

But Nainah refuted Acharya's claims. "What does the home minister mean when he says that there is no break down? The governor is well justified in his actions since the CM has clearly failed to act and has become helpless. The law and order situation in Bellary has broken down and the government has failed to act upon it, despite so many representations regarding this issue," Nainah stated.

"When the situation is such it is necessary that he appraises both the President and the Union government about this. That is not hyperactive in my view," Nainah added.

'Lets focus on Karnataka first'

Justice Hegde said, "I don't find a CBI probe necessary at the moment. The scam has emerged out of here, and let us try and set our house in order first."

"We are collecting material and data everyday and let us act upon that first. Once we finish with this, then we can move on to the other states, and pressurise the Union government to act on it. At the moment, let us focus on Karnataka and I can probe into this aspect," Justice Hegde said.