Accusing the Congress leadership of adopting double standards on the issue of mining leases, the BJP senior leader and former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya has demanded that the Central government should act firmly to prevent the “exploitation” of the valuable iron ore resources at Bayyaram and curb the “biggest mining scam”.
Mr. Dattatreya visited the iron ore mines at Bayyaram on Monday. Later, speaking to newspersons Mr. Dattatreya alleged that the “Bayyaram illegal mining lease” exposed the blatant misuse of power for favouring a private firm by the persons at the helm of affairs.
“The Chief Minister K. Rosaiah should demonstrate his sincerity by scrapping both the GO 69 and GO 64 that allowed exploitation of the iron ore mines spread in over 1.40 lakh acres in the tribal areas of Bayyaram and few other neighbouring mandals,” he demanded.
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“Some vested elements had conspired to loot the rich mineral resources of Bayyaram and execute their clandestine plans with ulterior motives,” he charged and demanded that the government should set up a steel factory under the aegis of the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) at Bayyaram to utilise the rich mineral wealth for the welfare of the tribals.
When asked on the reported attack on the TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu's convoy by suspected TRS activists in Ranga Reddy district, Mr Dattatreya termed it as an unfortunate incident.
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“It is an undemocratic and unwarranted act” he remarked and said, “Mr. Naidu should make his stand clear on separate Telangana issue. He should realise that the people of Telangana will not believe his words unless he comes out with his party's clear-cut stand on the statehood issue”.
Responding to a specific query on the alleged involvement of some activists owing allegiance to a frontal organisation of the BJP in the attack,
Mr. Dattatreya parried the question saying he had to ascertain the facts. “The BJP would never allow its cadres to resort to such acts,” he asserted.
The BJP district president K. Sridhar Reddy, Kisan Morcha state executive member D. Koteswara Rao and others were present.