Naidu pushes for All-party meeting on illegal mining

Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu is lobbying for an all-party meeting to discuss illegal mining that he says poses a “threat to democracy and national security”. Saroj Nagi reports.

Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu is lobbying for an all-party meeting to discuss illegal mining that he says poses a “threat to democracy and national security”.

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Recently, the issue had rocked Karnataka and triggered a crisis in the government, pushing the first BJP government in south to the brink.

“The mining mafia is a threat to democracy and is capable of subverting governments. We’d be happy if the PM calls an all-party meeting. But if that doesn’t happen, we will call such a meeting between December 7 and 10,’’ he said.

The meeting is likely to set the stage for a national role for Naidu — one that he enjoyed during the United Front and NDA regimes.

He already has the support of leaders like H.D. Deve Gowda (Janata Dal-Secular), Prakash Karat (CPM), Sharad Yadav (JD-United), AB Bardhan (CPI) and Ajit Singh (Rashtriya Lok Dal).

The former Andhra CM now plans to reach out to the UPA, including the Congress.

Naidu has sought a CBI probe into illegal mining and a transparent mining policy.

Naidu, who will also call on Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister P. Chidambram, has accused the Reddy brothers (in Karnataka) and their Obulapuram mining company of illegal mining activities and using their “ill-gotten money to influence politics in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka’’.