Karnataka CM rejects CBI probe demand into mining scam

Dismissing out of hand the possibility of a CBI probe into the illegal iron ore mining and export 'scam', Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa said, ''We will not hand it over the CBI.'' He was speaking to reporters in Bangalore today. He added that the government was not looking at that option at all.

He said the government would continue with the on-going inquiry by the Lokayukta into illegal mining. Congress and JDS have been insisting all along that only the CBI was equipped to probe a scam of such a magnitude given the inter-state scale of operations and overseas shipments.

In the Legislative Council, home minister VS Acharya reiterated the government position on the demand for a CBI inquiry and said the government would not order a probe.

Meanwhile, in another development a meeting of the BJP legislature party which discussed the situation arising from the opposition dharna, supported the government's decision to reject the opposition demand for a CBI probe.

"There is no question of seeking CBI investigation into illegal mining. The Congress is trying to create confusion in the minds of people by clinging to personal prestige", state unit BJP president KS Eswarappa said in an interaction with the press after the meeting.