The mining controversy has grabbed all attention of politicians, sidelining vital issues of governance.
As the political battle over mining continues to rage at a time when millions of flood-hit populace in northern Karnataka are pleading for relief and the state is facing an acute power crunch, the masses, seeking immediate succour from the government, wonder why the political parties are so obsessed with the issue.
CT Ravi, general secretary, BJP justified his party’s strong response to the offensive launched by the opposition. “We were compelled to set the record straight when Congress leaders accused our government of issuing mining licences to 15 companies. The Congress, which had turned a blind eye to illegal mining, is hit hard by the ban on export of iron ore,” said Ravi.
He agreed that the day was not far off when people would come out to lynch politicians if the trend continued for long.
Senior Congress leader VS Ugrappa, who is leading the Congress offensive against the BJP government, saw a solution to the state’s resources crunch by stopping illegal mining.
“The volume of illegal mining runs into thousands of crores of rupees. It can take care of the resource needs for implementing power projects, build lakhs of houses for the poor and provide food grains for the poor at subsidised prices. That is why we are determined to continue the fight till illegal mining is stopped,” he said.
Economist and social scientist prof Abdul Aziz from the Institute for Social and Economic Change pointed out that it was the mining lobby that had emerged as the main source of funding for political parties.
“Contesting in elections has become very expensive. The mining industry has emerged as the leading source of funding. So, all political parties have a stake in mining industry. It is the money from mining lords of Bellary that has helped the BJP to come to power,” said Aziz.
The ban on export of iron ore will not affect the Reddys who have their mines in Andhra Pradesh, but miners like Congressman Anil Lad are hit hard. “This seems to have forced the Congress to see it as a discriminatory action to choke the miners supporting it. It is natural for the Congress to continue its campaign against the Reddys,” explained Aziz.
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