Pics: Savitha B R
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/SB)
 
Mangalore, May 11: The recent comment by MP Sadananda Gowda holding Congress and JD(S) responsible for illegal mining in the state was strongly criticized by MLA U T Khader and KPCC secretary Ivan D’Souza.

At a press meet held at district Congress office on Wednesday May 11, U T Khader said that Sadananda Gowda's claim that licence to mining was given by Congress during its power in state was an utter nonsense. Khader said those days there was no illegal mining in the state and giving licence was the duty of any government in power. But D V failed to understand that even chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has agreed to the fact that the state treasury had incurred a loss of Rs 5,000 crore after 2 lac metric tonne of ore was transported to Pakistan, even after Lokayukta's seizure of mines at Belekeri port.

He urged the state government to hand over the investigation to CBI and  challenged the state government to retain Lokayukta Santhosh Hegde in office even after his term ends.
 
Ivan D’Souza flayed Sadananda Gowda for his comment and said that the BJP government in state has defamed the reputation of the state across the globe. He pointed out that after the BJP government came to power survey numbers of mining lands were changed and illegal mining was carried out recklessly in the state. The day is not very far when CM Yeddyurappa would be imprisoned, he said.

He urged the governor to dissolve the government and expressed confidence that this tenure would be the last for BJP in state.