Governor for action against Gali brothers

The recent crisis rocking the Karnataka Assembly for the past few days has now acquired national focus, with the Governor, Mr Hans Raj Bhardwaj, briefing the President, Ms Pratibha Patil, on these developments here on Tuesday.

The Governor, who met the President over breakfast on Tuesday morning, told reporters later that “no one had the licence to indulge in corruption” and that he would not “shirk his responsibilities”.

The Governor added, in a clear reference to the Reddy brothers, that he had directed the Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, to initiate action against corrupt ministers as the matter was one of probity and integrity in public life. “You can’t have corruption. Nobody can be given a licence to do corruption. I have addressed the issue to the Chief Minister. I have told him: you appointed the ministers, and you should take action. He said he needed time. He didn’t say it is not happening.”

The Governor emphasised: “The CM admitted that illegal mining has taken place.”

To a specific question about the Reddy brothers and their illegal mining, the Governor said he had already referred the matter of their disqualification to the Election Commission for perusal and further action.

He had also sought a CBI inquiry into the Reddy brothers’ mining business. The Governor at the same time added that he could not on his own initiate action against state ministers.

Mr Bhardwaj regretted the powerlessness of the state’s Lokayukta.