Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj on Thursday again turned the heat on the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state, accusing it of inaction on the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee's report on illegal mining.
"Karnataka must seriously look into the issue of illegal mining in the wake of CEC report on the matter which is damning", Bhardwaj told PTI on the sidelines of a function at the Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru.
"But what can I do? It is (Karnataka Chief Minister B S) Yeddyurappa's job to take take action on it", he said.
The CEC had in its report on April 15 said there had been illegal mining on a colossal scale in the state, particularly in Bellary district, with "active" connivance of officials of the departments concerned and also public representatives.
Bhardwaj hit out at the government for its "failure" act against the Reddy brothers -- G Karunakara and G Janardhana, accused of being involved in illegal mining.
Asked about today's seizure of iron ore worth about Rs 6 crore in Sandur taluk in Bellary which was being illegally transported to Andhra Pradesh, he said "I prosecuted these ministers (Bellary brothers) who are involved (in illegal mining) but things did not move any further, the government did not do anything. I even suggested to Yeddyurappa to drop them (from the ministry) but he did not do it".
"Now, they will be exposed when CBI files a chargesheet against them. To tell you frankly, there is no communication between the Raj Bhavan and the government on these issues (illegal mining and land scams)", he said.
Bhardwaj said governance in the state was suffering because of leakage in revenues.
"But I can only advise on these matters, can't do anything more", he said. On whether the father-son duo of Shanthi Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan should remain on Jan Lokpal committee's panel in the wake of the controversy over a CD allegedly featuring the elder Bhushan, a smiling Bhardwaj said, "We are lawyers. We have to defend our clients, he could be anybody. A Bhushan cannot become an Anna Hazare who is a social activist".
On Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi branding Karnataka as the "number one in corruption", Bhardwaj said, "I had a different equation with (Rahul's) father (Rajiv Gandhi) who was a good friend of mine. However, I would not like to comment on this. I do not want to get into Delhi politics. I am far removed from it".
