Yeddyurappa welcomes CBI probe, Cong wants BJP govt to go

An embattled former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court order for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into illegal mining and donations received by his family-run trust from mining firms.

"The Supreme Court has ordered probe into illegal mining that pertained to my tenure as the chief minister. I request the Prime Minister to order CBI probe into the issue since 2000 till my regime," Yeddyurappa told the media on the sidelines of a function at Nanjangud near Mysore.

"Political conspiracy hatched against me has made me an accused in illegal mining though it is I who stopped it. I am facing the trouble after doing good work. I know how to come out of this political labyrinth," Yeddyurappa claimed. He, however, said, "I welcome the Supreme Court decision".

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who shared the dais with Yeddyurappa at the function, expressed optimism that his predecessor will come clean in all the cases.  The high court has quashed the Lokayukta report on illegal mining on Yeddyurappa, he pointed out.

"It is left to the BJP high command to decide on what position should be given to Yeddyurappa," Gowda said in response to a query.

Soon after the Supreme Court order, opposition Congress leader in the state assembly Siddaramaiah demanded dissolution of the Karnataka assembly.

"The BJP government has no moral right to continue in office. The BJP high command should ask its party to dissolve the state assembly and seek fresh mandate," Siddaramaiah said in Mysore.

Former Karnataka CM H D Kumaraswamy too welcomed the Supreme Court verdict, and remarked, "It is a lesson for all those who misuse power".

Meanwhile, supporters of Yeddyurappa including MLAs are likely to hold a meeting in the city by Friday evening after their leaders return from Mysore.