In a late evening development on Friday, mining baron from Bellary and State Information and Infrastructure Minister Santosh lad submitted his resignation under pressure over the alleged illegal mining scam to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. lad claimed innocence but blamed an internal conspiracy for his resignation.
He said, “I have become a victim of internal conspiracy. I am taking a moral stand on the issue. I have submitted my resignation to the Chief Minister. I will cooperate in the investigation. I am not involved in illegal mining. I did not want to embarrass the party and the CM.” lad who was in Delhi lobbying to keep his post was asked to come back and submit his resignation. lad met KPCC chief G Parameshwara and went to the CM’s residence and submitted his resignation.
The resignation of lad ahead of the Winter Session of the Assembly which will be held in Belgaum from November 25, has hit the image of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who came to power fighting illegal mining. But many in the Congress feel it was a masterplan by Siddaramaiah who is planning to expand his Cabinet and to keep tainted aspirants away.
The lone crusader SR Hiremath of Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) who is waging a war against illegal mining had submitted many documents to Governor HN Bhardwaj asking him to intervene to sack Santosh lad who is allegedly involved in illegal mining. He told The Pioneer that he had evidence to prove the involvement of lad in illegal mining through who is a partner in VS lad & Sons. He said, “I have submitted relevant documents to the CM and I am happy that the CM acted. The matter is ended now. I am not against him personally.”
In a letter to the Governor, along with 126-page document which the Samudaya claims to prove the involvement of lad in illegal mining, had pointed out that VS lad & Sons, in which lad is a partner, has been categorised as ‘C’ grade company by the joint team of the CEC and thereby its mining operations be suspended and lease cancelled and that a police investigation was pending against the company for illegal mining.
Hiremath claims Minister lad as third partner in the company, holding 25 per cent and drawing salary of Rs 1.08 crore per annum can’t distance himself from the allegations. Siddaramaiah held a padayatra to Bellary to fight illegal mining when he was the leader of the Opposition and took on the then ruling BJP Government.
However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had been maintaining that Minister lad was not involved in illegal mining and refused to drop him from the Ministry. BJP president Prahlad Joshi had accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who as Opposition leader had led a padayatra to Bellary against illegal mining, of adopting double standards and allowing lad to continue in the Ministry, despite documents indicating his involvement in the scam. Former Chief Minister and KJP leader BS Yeddyurappa also demanded the Chief Minister to drop lad for his involvement in illegal mining.