Bangalore: Is it another case of targeting the whistle-blower or a routine inquiry? The biggest whistleblower of the mining scam in Karnataka, RTI activist S R Hiremath, is now facing a probe by the state government. The move comes days after Hiremath released documents that show alleged involvement in illegal mining by a Cabinet minister close to the chief minister Siddaramaiah.
Four years back, RTI activist and the head of an NGO Samaja Parivarthana Samudaya (SPS) S R Hiremath decided that he would take his campaign against illegal mining mafia in Bellary to the country's highest court. The 69-year-old activist filed his first PIL in the Supreme Court in 2009. A PIL that, since then, brought down governments and sent top politicians to jail making Hiremath, enemy of the most powerful in the state. Hiremath however, is now at the receiving end of an enquiry by the government on whether foreign funding he gets is illegal.
He said "I feel this is concocted and deliberated by vested interests. How can filing a PIL and exercising the Constitutional rights be illegal? There is obviously more to it than meets the eye. But since we're party to it, we welcome it and will give all requisite documents"
Hiremath's troubles started when he released documents last month against Information and Infrastructure Development Minister Santosh Lad, a close confidante of chief minister Siddaramiah. Hiremath says Lad's mining company was categorized as amongst the worst offenders by the Supreme Court.
According to political watchers in the state the pressure has been mounting for the past two month to get Santosh Lad removed from the cabinet both through protests by Opposition parties and petitions to the Governor. But with Lad enjoying prolonged protection, the question being raised is - is the chief minister letting go off the credibility he has built over many years, to protect one minister, who allegedly funded his campaign?
But the government denies that this letter from the Chief Minister's office to probe Hiremath's NGO is vengeful.
Defending his minister Santosh Lad, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said "There is no order, no revenge, and no enquiry. I'm not protecting anyone. I'm going by the facts. I don't say he is innocent; it is for the court to say that. From available documents, I've said there is no role in illegal mining"
Hiremath, who took on the mining mafia and has faced many threats earlier, says however, this will not deter him. He said "We have nothing to worry, nothing to fear. We will continue our work with renewed vigour. There is no impact of the vested interests"
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