The mine politics while paving way for a major political battle between the ruling and
opposition parties in the state, is also all likely to pollute the state’s public space for
quite a long time.
Though the Chief Minister has issued an order on July 19, for a Lokayukta probe into all
the mine dealings in the state ever since mining commenced in the state, thereby trying
to reduce the focus on Bellary Reddys in the illegal mining, the fact remains that the
Lokayukta probe would be a futile attempt to search a black dragon on the night of
Amavasya.
The expanse of the Lokayukta probe is so much that the investigation is unlikely to be
completed until another three year period when the term of his government will come to
an end. There are several reasons for this government to heave a sigh of relief.
Firstly, the present Lokayukta Santosh Hegde has just one year term to go and the
government can very well appoint a person of its choice to that post later, in order to
save itself.
There is no doubt that the Lokayukta may need at least three to four years to probe into
all mining scams since the past ten years. Even if anyone in the government still had any
illusion that the Lokayukta Santosh Hegde would help the government in tiding over the
crisis, Hegde himself while speaking at Hubli on July 21 had tried to clear any doubts.
Hegde said “ Yeddyurappa should not have told that either he or his government has not
done anything wrong in mining.” “ If they had not erred why probe?” he questioned the
government and made it clear when he said “ Though CM’s statement was intended at
influencing the investigation, I will not bite the trap.” By saying so the Lokayukta has
done what was expected from him by the people. Thanks to him for the same.
As the Lokayukta probe has no time limit and will not include the issue that is before
the House, it is very much clear that this investigation will not serve any purpose and
will be a wasteful exercise like the investigations undertaken by several commissions in
the past.
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