When the Congress and JD (S) continued their dharna for the third consecutive day demanding a CBI probe, he said, “You seem to be trying to safeguard the interest of the Congress leaders and hush up their involvement by referring the issue to the CBI.”
Irate Congress members raised slogans against the BJP and in turn the ruling party members also raised their voice. In the din the Chief Minister was heard requesting Speaker K G Bopaiah to order a probe into the alleged misuse of flood-relief funds by the KPCC president.
Speaker K G Bopaiah made a vain bid to bring in order before adjourning the House for Thursday. He said, “I apologise to the people of Karnataka that I can’t conduct the House as both the sides are not allowing me to do so.”
The Chief Minister said he is ready to refer the issue of illegal mining since 2003 to the Lokayukta. “You wanted Lokayukta Hegde to continue and also strengthen the Lokayukta institution. Both demands have been met. You have already declared that you have immense faith in the Lokayukta. So, let me hand over the issue to the Lokayukta,”he said. The probe by the Lokayukta would reveal the truth in the shortest possible time, he added.
Yeddyurappa urged the UPA Government to order any kind of probe into the export of ore from the Belekeri port as ports come under the jurisdiction of the Centre. Home Minister V S Acharya, in the Council, declared that the Government has no faith in the CBI.
Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, who was adamant on a CBI probe, said in the Assembly his party had no intention of stalling the business of the House because it wanted to expose many more scams. But the Government is forcing the Opposition to agitate. Outside the Assembly, Siddaramaiah, upset with the abrupt adjournment of the House, dubbed Yeddyurappa as a ‘goonda and fascist’ and said he is scared of the Bellary brothers.
Realising that the Government is not ready to budge, the Congress and JD (S) declared that they would go to the people to expose BJP’s misdeeds.