Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Friday called on Governor H R Bhardwaj, who is gunning for the removal of Reddy brothers from the state ministry, and conveyed the government's stand against a CBI inquiry into the illegal mining scam at this stage.
Yeddyurappa, accompanied by state Home Minister Dr V S Acharya and Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs S Suresh Kumar, held discussions with the governor for about 40 minutes at the Raj Bhavan.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Yeddyurappa said: "It was a cordial meeting with the Governor and I explained to him the prevailing developments and the steps taken to strengthen the institution of Lokayukta."
The Governor was also informed that the illegal mining was under Lokayukta probe, Yeddyurappa said in the backdrop of Bhardwaj meeting President Pratibha Patil and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and raising the issue of continuance of Reddy brothers, facing charges of illegal mining, in the ministry.
Sticking to his government stand of not referring the illegal mining issue to CBI investigation, Yeddyurappa said he had told the Governor, 'Now it is not proper to entrust the matter to CBI probe. If we do it now, it would further delay the inquiry process'.
"The Governor told me that Karnataka is one of the best administered states and the law and order situation is good compared to entire country," Yeddyurappa said, adding that during the course of his discussion, the Governor was informed on the conduct of Opposition parties that have been disrupting the proceedings in both houses of the legislature over the mining issue.
"Instead of participating in debates, the Opposition parties have decided to go on padayatra, which is most unfortunate, undemocratic and unconstitutional," he said.
