Bengaluru, November 5, 2025
In a escalating political showdown that threatens to rock the Siddaramaiah administration, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday leveled explosive allegations against the Congress government in Karnataka, claiming it is deliberately shielding a powerful illegal mining mafia operating in the iron ore-rich Bellary district. The accusations, voiced amid swelling public protests, have prompted the opposition to demand a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, warning of statewide unrest if the government fails to act.
The controversy erupted during a high-decade BJP rally in Hospet, a key town in Bellary, where senior party leaders, including former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Union Minister for Mines Pralhad Joshi, addressed thousands of agitated locals. "The Congress regime is not just turning a blind eye to the plunder of Bellary's resources—it's actively protecting the mining barons who have looted our land for years," Bommai thundered to the crowd, which erupted in chants of "CBI lao, mafia bhagao" (Bring CBI, chase away the mafia). Joshi echoed the sentiment, accusing the state government of "selective amnesia" regarding past mining scams that once led to the ouster of the BJP itself in 2011.
At the heart of the allegations is a fresh wave of unauthorized mining activities reported in the Kumaraswamy and Sandur ranges of Bellary, where satellite imagery and whistleblower tips suggest over 50 illegal operations extracting iron ore worth an estimated ₹500 crore annually. Environmental activists and local farmers, who have borne the brunt of dust pollution, groundwater depletion, and land degradation, claim that despite multiple complaints to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), no raids or closures have occurred in the past six months. "Our fields are turning barren, our children are coughing up dust, and yet the district administration looks the other way," said Lakshmi Devi, a 52-year-old farmer from Kudatini village, who joined the protest with placards reading "Save Bellary from Congress Loot."
The BJP's offensive comes at a precarious time for the Congress government, already grappling with internal dissent over the Mahadevapura bypoll loss and fiscal pressures from drought-hit regions. Party spokesperson R. Ashok alleged in a press conference that "high-level political patronage" from within the ruling dispensation is enabling the mafia, pointing fingers at unnamed ministers with alleged ties to mining lobbies. "This is a repeat of the 2006-2010 scam, but with Congress in the driver's seat. We demand the CBI to investigate the nexus between politicians, bureaucrats, and miners," Ashok said, releasing a dossier of purported evidence including forged environmental clearances and vehicle logs of ore smuggling.
Responding swiftly, the Congress dismissed the claims as a "desperate BJP ploy to derail development projects." Home Minister G. Parameshwara, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, asserted that the state police have already initiated probes into 12 mining-related complaints, with three FIRs filed under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. "The BJP ruled here for years and left Bellary in ruins. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds. We are committed to sustainable mining and will not allow any illegality," Parameshwara countered, announcing an independent judicial inquiry led by a retired High Court judge to review the allegations within 30 days.
However, skepticism runs deep among protesters. The Bellary Mining Affected Citizens' Forum, a coalition of over 5,000 families, has planned a 'Rail Roko' agitation starting November 7, blocking key rail lines used for ore transport if the government doesn't suspend operations in disputed areas. "Judicial inquiries are just delays. We want CBI boots on the ground now," forum convenor Ravi Kumar told this correspondent, flanked by youth volunteers distributing anti-mining pamphlets.
Bellary's mining saga dates back over a decade, when a multi-crore scam involving politicians from both major parties led to Supreme Court interventions, mine closures, and the relocation of thousands of workers. Revived under regulated auctions post-2013, the sector contributes nearly 40% of Karnataka's iron ore output, fueling giants like JSW Steel and NMDC. Yet, illegal encroachments persist, exacerbated by lax enforcement and the district's proximity to neighboring Andhra Pradesh, a smuggling hotspot.
As tensions simmer, all eyes are on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is scheduled to address the state assembly on Thursday. Political analysts warn that failure to de-escalate could fracture the Congress's rural vote bank in the upcoming local body elections. "This isn't just about mines—it's a litmus test for governance in resource-rich but vulnerable districts," observed Prof. Muzaffar Assadi, a political scientist at the University of Mysore.
The CBI, contacted for comment, stated it would "examine any formal request from the state or court," while the KSPCB promised aerial surveys by week's end. For now, Bellary's red earth remains a flashpoint, where the clash of pickaxes and politics could unearth more than just ore.
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