Mining lobby may be behind Karnataka govt crisis: Venkaiah Naidu

Alleging that the "mining lobby" could be behind the attempt to destabilise the BJP government in Karnataka, senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu today said, "An investigation will be ordered to bring out the truth over the issue.

"The mine owners have ganged up, I am told. Because they are aggrieved by the order of the state government banning the export of iron ore, which is fetching them thousands of crores of rupees.

"Once it [the situation] stabilises, we will order an enquiry into the entire episode and find out who are the people who provided this money, who are the people behind this, how the money has changed hands," he told reporters.

Asked to elaborate, Naidu said, "The chief minister will take a decision in the matter."

He asserted that the BS Yeddyurappa government has taken a courageous decision in banning the export of iron ore.

"The victory of the Yeddyurappa government in the confidence vote is a triumph of democracy and a slap in the face of the Congress-JD(S) combine and their co-conspirator, governor HR Bhardwaj," Naidu said.

Describing the decision of the speaker to disqualify the dissident MLAs as "historic", he said, "The decision will go a long way in arresting unethical acts of defectors and horse traders."