“We were expecting some decision from the Centre so that there is expeditious action to deal with the current situation. This commission will take a long time to give its report. The 18 months that is stipulated may linger on if the commission chairman seeks more time,” said some leaders, who did not want to be quoted.
The Centre’s decision comes at a time when the State Congress was demanding a CBI inquiry into illegal mining.
However, Opposition leader in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah welcomed the Cabinet decision. “We welcome the decision but our demand for the CBI probe will continue,” Siddaramaiah and KPCC President R V Deshpande said.
Buoyed by what they termed as “massive success” of padayatra to Bellary, the Congress leaders said they had pressed for a CBI probe when they called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier to the padayatra.
“We have convinced the Union government that illegal mining is going on in Karnataka. Though the State government has banned export of iron ore, it is still continuing. It is because the ministers are involved in it. Ore is transported to Andhra Pradesh from Karnataka and from there it is exported,” they said.
The Congress leaders demanded the prosecution of Minister Bache Gowda, who was allegedly involved in thrashing a businessman for overtaking his car. Noting that nobody was above law, Siddaramaiah and Motamma said the minister, who was supposed to be a custodian of law, was breaking it. Gowda was acting like a goonda, they added.