Let mining report come on record: Bhardwaj

Turning the heat on Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, Governor H R Bhardwaj on Sunday made it clear that he will send his assessment to the President once the Lokayukta submits his report indicting the BJP leader in the illegal mining scam.

Giving ample indications that he will play an active role, Bhardwaj said, "I am the competent authority to deal with the Government".

"Let these things (the mining report) come on record. Then I can express my opinion to the President (Pratibha Patil) which can't be leaked to the press," the Karnataka Governor told reporters on the eve of Yeddyurappa's return from a week-long holiday with his family in Mauritius.

The report of Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde leaked last week indicted Yeddyurappa and four ministers, among others, and put the loss to state exchequer because of illegal mining for 14 months from March 2009 at more than Rs 1,800 crore.

The report findings have embarrassed the ruling BJP, whose central leadership has promised to take "appropriate action" once the report is submitted by Hegde.

The Lokayukta is expected to submit the much-awaited report by Wednesday. "We are working even today (Sunday) and printing. We do not know when it will be completed. We are going through certain chapters. Though we want to bring it out tomorrow, it looks unlikely at this stage. We will submit the report by Wednesday," sources close of Hegde said.