Thaindian News

Bangalore, Dec 8 (IANS) External Affairs minister S.M. Krishna Thursday termed as “unholy attempts” at “character assassination” the allegations that he had allowed illegal mining in Karnataka for financial gains when he was the chief minister.

“Attempts at character assassination are one of the most despicable of human behavioural patterns. I am more than certain that the judiciary would vindicate me and put to rest once and for all such unholy attempts,” he said in a statement soon after police in Bangalore registered an FIR (first information report), that marks formal beginning of investigation, against him and two other former chief ministers.

The other two are N. Dharam Singh of the Congress who succeeded Krishna in 2004, and his successor H.D. Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal-Secular.

The FIR was registered by the police attached to the Lokayukta (ombudsman) on the direction of the Lokayukta special court Judge N.K. Sudhindra Rao on a private complaint by a Bangalore businessman and social activist T.J. Abraham.

Krishna, who was Karnataka chief minister 1999-2004, said in his statement that “there has been no de-reservation of forests (during his tenure) as is being incorrectly reported.”

“The (state) cabinet sometime in 2003 decided to de-reserve mineral wealth for mining. Government is fully empowered to take such a decision as per the Minerals Concession Rules, 1960,” he said.

Krishna said the notification issued after the cabinet decision “clearly states that applicants for mining leases have to obtain ‘no objection certificates’ from the forest department. When a gazette notification has been issued it is abundantly clear that nothing has been done in secret,” he asserted.

Krishna also said he never retained the portfolio of mines and geology. “Further to the best of my knowledge, no mining licence was issued during my tenure. Even if such licences were issued, this would have been done by the competent authority of the mines and geology department.”

“In view of the above, there is no wrongful loss to the government. Consequently, there can be no wrongful gain,” Krishna said.

He also noted that the then Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde, former Supreme Court judge, “conducted a very detailed and comprehensive enquiry into the issue of mining from 1999 to 2010 which covered my tenure as Chief Minister from 1999 to 2004. There is no indictment of me anywhere in the Lokayukta report. The fact that Justice Santosh Hegde has gone on record in public only further confirms this.”

Krishna said while his legal team will take “appropriate action at the appropriate time, I consider it necessary to clarify matters. This is necessary as silence on my part would give rise to speculation.”