Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that by handing over investigation of illegal mining to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate he had fulfilled the promise the Congress made to the people in its manifesto before the Assembly elections.
The Exchequer suffered a huge loss owing to illegal mining during the rule of Bharatiya Janata Party, he said and alleged that the BJP leaders amassed wealth through illegal mining. The people have taught BJP leaders a lesson for looting precious natural resources, he said at a meeting at th Shimoga District Congress Committee office here on Sunday.
The Congress had launched a series of protests against illegal mining and thereby created awareness among the people about its ill-effects. Elected representatives and officials involved in illegal mining will not be spared, he said.
Without taking names, he said that leaders from Shimoga who enjoyed prominent positions in the BJP government had failed to address the problems faced by the people in the district. He urged Congress activists to work unitedly for the victory of the party in the Lok Sabha elections in Shimoga constituency.
Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake, Shimoga MLA K.B. Prasanna Kumar, Shimoga Municipal Council president Khurshida Banu, District Congress Committee president R. Prasanna Kumar and party leader Manjunatha Bhandary were present.
