TDP takes credit for Gali's arrest

Taking credit for the arrest of Karnataka Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy on Monday by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the multi-billion illegal mining scam, Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu said it was his party which brought the entire scam to the nation’s notice.

Describing Gali’s arrest as a ‘good sign’, the TDP president held both the State and Central Governments responsible for ‘looting’ of crores of rupees due to illegal mining in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Talking to media persons at NTR Trust Bhavan, the TDP chief said though his party brought to notice of the State Legislative Assembly and Parliament with evidence that illegal mining was going on in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh since 2005, the respective governments failed to act responsibly. He said that the political parties would lose confidence of people if the governments do not act responsibly on the guilty.

Naidu alleged that the Gali Brothers resorted to indiscriminate mining due to governments’ inept attitude and colluded with YSR Congress president Jaganmohan Reddy in looting of nation’s natural wealth. Despite the Supreme Court and Lokayukta indicting Gali Brothers, Naidu alleged that they continued mining.

Naidu reiterated that his party would continue its fight against illegal mining until the guilty are brought to book. He asked the state government to cooperate with the CBI in producing all evidences in connection with mining scam.