No effort will be made to protect the accused in mining scam: CM

Mangalore, August 20: Chief Minister D V Sadanandagowda has assured the people of Karnataka that no effort would be made to save the accused in the Lokayukta report, report on illegal mining in which Mr. Yeddyurappa has been indicted among other ministers.

Replying to the questions of media persons after landing at Mangalore Airport on Saturday afternoon CM said: “If anybody is involved in any wrongdoing, we will discuss it with the high command before agreeing on a decision.”

He promised that all the activities during his tenure would be transparent and in full knowledge of the people of the state. Commenting on the CEC report he said that he had called for a meeting with Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary and other officials of the concerned departments on next Tuesday at 3 pm. He said that no decision would be taken in a hurry as it was important to assess all the aspects of a case.

Mr Gowda will be meeting the residents and officials of Udupi till Sunday evening before returning to Bangalore. He will be consulting the Deputy Commissioners of Alamatti, Bijapur and Bagalkot on Monday.

Mr Gowda said that progress reviews of 20 departments have already been finished which would help in the smooth functioning of the administrative engine.

He had reviewed the progress of development activities in the district along with V S Acharya and Krishna Palemar on Friday. He also promised a swift initiation of development activities in the coastal districts after conducting a discussion of its major problems.

On Yedyurappa's pledge to return to power, he said that those who have commented on returning to power should answer those questions.

Mr Gowda opined that the delay in disposal of files was the major reason for corruption. He said that there is an initiative to hold video conferences from Deputy Commissioners (DC), Zilla Panchayat CEO's to Thashildars at DC's office to increase transparency in administration.

However the CM declined to comment on questions related to cabinet expansion.

Cabinet Members V S Acharya, Krishna J Palemar, Anand Asnotikar, Superintendent of Police Laburam, IGP (western Range) Alok Mohan, Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh were also present.