NCPNR demands youngest Reddy's removal

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Sep 22: Two non-governmental organisations today urged Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda to remove the ''tainted'' Somasekhar Reddy from the chairmanship of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and initiate criminal proceedings against him for illegal mining as per the second Lokayukta report.

"In fact, Somasekhara Reddy had laid the foundation for carrying out illegal mining activities in Bellary and Sandur areas ... Therefore he must be removed and initiate criminal proceedings against him," National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR) Convenor, S R Hiremath, told reporters here.

Somasekhara Reddy is a brother of former Karnataka minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy, now in CBI custody.

NCPNR, along with Jana Sangram Parishat (JSP) are pressing for the removal of Reddy from the chairmanship of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), he said.

He also urged the state government to take action against 700 officials, including the then Bellary Deputy Conservator of Forests S Muthaiah for allegedly colluding with illegal miners.

"Irrefutable evidence" of illegal mining and gross abuse of power by Somasekhar Reddy has been established in the second Lokayukta report submitted by Justice Santosh Hegde, he said.

The report confirms the "high-handed" behaviour of Somasekhar Reddy trying to influence officials so as to carry out illegal mining activities in Bellary district, he claimed.

The report also "confirms the audacity of Somasekhara Reddy" to ask a senior investigating officer whether he had the permission of district in-charge minister (Gali Janardhan Reddy) to enter Bellary, Hiremath said.

Links

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/192824/ngos-demand-removal-somasekhar-reddy.html

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/ngos-demand-removal-of-somasekhar-reddy-from-kmf-chairmanship/832885.html