Approach Supreme Court for CBI probe on mining: Yeddyurappa to opposition

Asserting that his government had no faith in the CBI, Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa today dared the opposition to approach the Supreme Court over its demand for a probe by the central agency into illegal mining.

"We have no faith in the CBI. If Congress leaders have any documents to prove illegal mining, let them go to the Supreme Court or present them to president Pratibha Patil," he told reporters in Raichur.

Yeddyurappa, who has firmly rejected the opposition demand for a CBI investigation into the illegal mining and export of iron ore, asked the Congress to submit "whatever proof it has" to the Lokayukta, which is probing the matter.

He urged the Centre to nationalise mining in the country and defended the ban slapped by him on export of iron ore.

Yeddyurappa said he was not perturbed by the ongoing 325-km padayatra undertaken by the Congress against illegal mining targeting the ministers and mining magnates - Janardhana Reddy, Karunakara Reddy and B Sreeramulu.

"They might have to spend another 25 years in doing padayatras in the state," he said.

Yeddyurappa said he would lead BJP rallies in district headquarters after August 20 to highlight the achievements of his government.