In a renewed attack on former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde, former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa demanded to know why names of Congress leaders have been dropped from his illegal mining report.
Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Yeddyurpapa asked him to reveal who was responsible for allegedly bugging his phone, a charge he made prior to submitting his final report on illegal mining and why he had not pursued the matter further.
“On what basis did Mr. Hegde indict me in illegal mining probe and recommended action against me without even giving me a notice?, was another poser by Mr. Yeddyurappa, who was forced to demit office by BJP in the aftermath of the report nailing him.
Mr. Yeddyurappa virtually took on B Sreeramulu and the Reddy brothers - mining magnates Janardhana Reddy and Karunakara Reddy- asserting “BJP means it is not Sreeramulu and Reddys. There are others in the party. I will expose Congress during my campaigning in the coming four days”.
Mr. Yeddyurappa, here for electioneering for BJP candidate Gadilingappa in the Bellary bypoll, denied having used his Lingayat community for political gains.
Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who was also present, said Mr. Sreeramulu had quit BJP and was contesting as an independent in the bypoll after BJP rejected his demand for a ministerial berth.
“I now regret supporting Sreeramulu and Reddys in Bellary,” he said.
