Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa today said some of his relatives were involved in illegal export of iron ore in the state, a charge refuted by the JDS leader.
Firing a fresh salvo at his predecessor HD Kumaraswamy, Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa today said some of his relatives were involved in illegal export of iron ore in the state, a charge refuted by the JDS leader.
"Let Kumaraswamy offer clarifications to people whether his relatives are into iron ore exports illegally or not," Yeddyurappa told reporters here during an election campaign.
Yeddyurappa also named some companies which he claimed were owned by Kumaraswamy's relatives and said his government would soon bring out a booklet on illegal mining and illegal export of iron ore involving Congress and JDS leaders.
Hitting back, Kumaraswamy, who headed the previous JDS-BJP coalition government, demanded that either Yeddyurappa prove his charge or tender an apology by this evening failing which his brother would file a defamation suit.
Addressing a press conference here, he said three firms named by Yeddyurappa were owned by his family members but they stopped export business when he was the chief minister.
Last year, Yeddyurappa had filed a defamation case against Kumaraswamy for making certain bribery allegations over awarding of a housing project to a private firm which is still pending before the court.
"If my relatives are involved in illegal exports and if the chief minister has any evidence, let him order for their arrest by this evening itself," Kumaraswamy said.
The illegal mining issue which is occupying the centre stage of the state politics in the recent months has again been raked up by the rival parties in the run up to the by-elections to Gulbarga South and Kadur constituencies.
The by-elections will be held on September 13.
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