Karnataka CM regrets giving much powers to Reddy brothers

PTI

Bangalore, 25 November 2011: Ruling BJP in Karnataka on Friday repented having given much powers to the Reddy brothers of Bellary even as it sent a tough message to their camp by issuing show cause notices to four legislators loyal to them for alleged anti-party activities. 

 

"We regret giving powers to three ministers in Bellary. People here are now facing anxious moments.There have been some mistakes on our part too. We will not allow such things to recur in future", Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said.

 

Reddy brothers, Janardhana and Karunakara, and their loyalist Sreeramulu,contesting as an independent in the bypoll to Bellary rural assembly segment, have "misused" powers given by the party and its government, Gowda told reporters here. 

 

"We regret giving them such powers.Such mistakes happened due to political and other reasons", Gowda said but did not elaborate. 

Gowda flayed Sreeramulu for threatening to wipe out the BJP from Bellary district. 

 

The Chief Minister’s remarks came after the party issued showcause notices to three MLAs - G Somashekara Reddy, B Nagendra, HT Suresh Babu and MLC Mruthyunjaya Jinaga who have thrown their weight behind Sreeramulu. 

 

The legislators have been asked to reply to the notices within three days, failing which they would be expelled from the party’s primary membership, State BJP President K S Eshwarappa told reporters in Bellary.

 

BJP leadership would also soon initiate action against two MPs, J Shantha, sister of Sreeramulu and Sanna Fakirappa, Eshwarappa said. The four legislators and two MPs have been actively campaigning for Sreeramulu for the Nov 30 bypoll. 

 

Sreeramulu is contesting as an independent after resigning as a BJP MLA for being denied a ministerial berth in the wake of the Lokayukta report on illegal mining which has indicted him, the Reddy brothers, who are mining barons, as also former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. 

 

Janardhana Reddy is lodged in a Hyderabad jail after being arrested by CBI in an illegal mining case. 

 

The Reddy brothers wielded tremendous clout in the state and had even launched an oust-Yeddyurappa campaign when the Karnataka strongman was Chief Minister. Yeddyurappa withstood their onslaught but had to quit in the wake of the Lokayukta report on illegal mining. 

 

Gowda said police have been investigating the murder of Siddalinga Prabhu, farmers’ leader who had been fighting against the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor project. 

 

Action would be taken against those involved in the murder, he said and added "viewing everything on a political angle and politicising the issue is not correct". 

 

Recently former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda staged a day-long fast demanding arrest of those involved in the murder and CBI probe. 

 

Gowda said notices have been issued to Belgaum City Mayor Manda Balekundri and some Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) councillors in connection with their anti-Kannada protests and reply was awaited.