Opposition Congress in Karnataka on Thursday demanded the resignation of the entire BJP government headed by B S Yeddyurappa in the wake of the Lokayukta report on the mining scam, citing “collective responsibility”.
“The entire BJP government must go. Looting has gone up,” Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah said, referring to the report that pegged loss to the state exchequer due to illegal mining between 2006 and 2010 at Rs 16,085 crore.
He said when Congress raised the issue of illegal mining by the Reddy brothers - Ministers G Karunakara and G Janardhana - in the Assembly, Mr. Yeddyurappa defended them saying they were not engaged in it “despite in the know”.
“It’s collective responsibility, the entire government should go,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.
The Lokayukta report submitted to the government on Wednesday has indicted Mr. Yeddyurappa and four ministers, including the Reddy brothers, among others, following which the BJP central leadership has asked the Chief Minister to step down.
