Andhra chief minister throws challenge to TDP

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah strongly rebutted the opposition's charges that his government was trying to shield the guilty in an illegal mining scandal, allegedly involving Karnataka's tourism minister Galli Janardhan Reddy.

He said that the government cannot take action merely on the basis of the report provided by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), appointed by the chief minister and would act on the verdict of the Supreme Court. "If I or my government were on the payroll of Galli Janardhan Reddy, as Chandrababu Naidu has alleged, I would not have ordered the CBI inquiry into the mining issue," he said.

"I have not degenerated into such an unfortunate situation where I have to shield the guilty," Rosaiah said. "I decided to order a CBI inquiry on my own and not under pressure from opposition or anybody," he said.

When asked about the reports which stated that the CEC appointed by the Supreme Court had found evidence of illegal mining in forest areas and violation of the borders between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Rosaiah said, "A responsible government cannot take action merely on the basis of media reports."