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.