BJP demands Krishna’s resignation over illegal mining
December 9th, 2011 - 12:04 am ICT by IANS
Bangalore, Dec 8 (IANS) The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka Thursday evening demanded External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna’s resignation following the launch of a police probe into his alleged role in illegal mining when he was chief minister in 1999-2004.
“Krishna should resign immediately,” the party said in a statement here, pointing out that its first chief minister in the state B.S. Yeddyurappa quit “soon after” the then Lokayukta (ombudsman) N. Santosh Hegde indicted him in illegal mining.
The demand came within hours of the police attached to Lokayukta registering in Bangalore an FIR (first information report), that marks formal beginning of probe, against Krishna and his two successors N. Dharam Singh, also of the Congress, and H.D. Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal-Secular.
“Congress should seek Krishna’s resignation,” state BJP spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Ayanur Manjunath and general secretary Raghunath Malkapure said in the statement.
“Law is catching up with the three former chief ministers and it is time their role in illegal mining in Karnataka is exposed,” they said.
Dharam Singh headed the Congress-JD-S coalition in 2004-2006 and Kumaraswamy succeeded him heading the JDS-BJP coalition in 2006-07.
The BJP has been alleging since the illegal mining scandal broke out in 2006 that Krishna, Dharam Singh and Kumaraswamy were mainly responsible for it.
Kumaraswamy has denied any role and blamed Krishna, calling him “pitamaha” (grandfather) of illegal mining in the state.
Krishna, however, has been stoutly denying the allegations and on Thursday he termed these as “unholy attempts” at “character assassination”.
- Three Karnataka ex-CMs named in mining scam FIR - Dec 08, 2011
- Illegal mining: Court allows probe of Krishna, Kumaraswamy's role (Lead) - Jan 20, 2012
- Illegal mining: Embarrassment for Congress as Krishna faces probe - Dec 03, 2011
- Krishna moves high court to quash illegal mining case - Dec 09, 2011
- Politicians' illegal mining links leave Karnataka battered (Lead News Analysis) - Jul 22, 2011
- Krishna moves apex court against Lokayukta proceedings - Jan 24, 2012
- BJP says Congress, JD-S encouraged mining mafia in Karnataka - May 09, 2011
- Files on Congress, JD-S corruption missing: Yeddyurappa - May 02, 2011
- Rajya Sabha adjourned twice over 'quit Krishna' demand - Dec 09, 2011
- Admired abroad, ridiculed at home: Karnataka's dubious distinction (Karnataka Newsletter) - Jun 27, 2011
- Apex court to hear Krishna's plea Friday - Jan 26, 2012
- Lokayukta denies naming Krishna in mining report - Jul 23, 2011
- Yeddyurappa fast running out of options (News Analysis) - Jul 22, 2011
- Krishna terms mining scam charges 'unholy' bid to malign him - Dec 08, 2011
- Krishna abetted illegal mining in Karnataka: NGO - Jan 05, 2012
Tags: character assassination, chief minister, chief ministers, dharam singh, external affairs minister, fir, general secretary, information report, krishna, kumaraswamy, launch, manjunath, ombudsman, police probe, raghunath, rajya sabha, resignation, sabha member, santosh, spokesperson