Journalism of Courage
The convenor of an NGO today claimed that he was threatened by two loyalists of former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa recently and asked to withdraw his petition filed in the Supreme Court on illegal mining.
Hiremath,convener of the Dharwad-based Samaj Parivarthan Samudaya,said over three weeks ago,two prominent persons from Yeddyurappa camp called him and asked him to meet the former chief minister,besides withdrawing his petition against their leader.
He said he was ready to meet Yeddyurappa,provided the former chief minister accepted his three conditions including returning of alleged kickbacks received from mining firms.
It was on his petition the apex court appointed-Central Empowered Committee (CEC) probed the illegal mining issue in parts of Karnataka and recommended CBI probe into donations allegedly made by mining firms to a trust,run by Yeddyurappa’s kin.
The Supreme Court is yet to commence hearing on the CEC report and pronounce its verdict.
The CEC report has come as a severe jolt to Yeddyurappa’s efforts to be reinstated as chief minister. He was asked to step down by the BJP’s central leadership in July last year following his indictment by a Lokayukta report on illegal mining.
