Bhardwaj does u-turn, says illegal mining stopped

After a fortnight long verbal battle with the Yeddyurappa led BJP government for recommending its dismissal which was rejected by the Centre, governor H R Bhardwaj today praised the regime, saying illegal mining had stopped after a Supreme Court ordered probe by CEC.

After a fortnight long verbal battle with the Yeddyurappa led BJP government for recommending its dismissal which was rejected by the Centre, governor H R Bhardwaj on Monday praised the regime, saying illegal mining had stopped after a Supreme Court ordered probe by CEC.

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"I took up the issue of illegal mining when I came to know about the chief minister remarking about the state's wealth being looted. Many people came to me with many things (memoranda). Subsequent to that Supreme Court appointed a committee... they came here and did their work."

Bhardwaj said after the apex court orders (restraining mining operations in 19 companies in Karnataka), "there has been introspection, illegal mining has stopped in Karnataka."

He also wished the Yeddyurappa government, which completed three years in office on Monday, all the very best, saying, "My goodwill is with the government. They have served the people. I hope they serve better in future."

On several earlier occasions, Bhardwaj had taken swipes at Yeddyurappa for not checking illegal mining and accused three Bellary ministers, including G Janardhana Redder, of being engaged in it, embarassing the government.